Checklists before starting or resuming exercise training in an athlete with acute respiratory infection (ARinf)
| Checklist 1: A checklist self-administered by the athlete or administered by the coach/support staff before exercise training starts or continues after an ARinf. Generally recommended in cases of mild ARinf or asymptomatic ARinf. | |||
| Checklist | Yes | No | |
| Question 1: Do you have any of the following symptoms at rest? | Fever (raised body temperature) | ||
| Chills | |||
| Excessive fatigue/tiredness | |||
| General muscle aches and pains | |||
| Breathing difficulty, including fast breathing or shortness of breath | |||
| Chest pain, chest pressure or chest tightness | |||
| Dizziness, palpitations/racing heart (faster than normal) at rest | |||
| Moderate to severe dry or wet cough | |||
| Severe headache | |||
| Persistent and/or severe nose/throat symptoms (eg, blocked/plugged nose, runny nose, sinus pressure, sore/scratchy throat, or hoarseness) | |||
| Persistent abdominal symptoms after the infection (eg, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea) | |||
| Just ‘not feeling well enough’ to exercise | |||
| Question 2: Do you have any of the following risk factors that are associated with more severe ARinf? | History of heart disease, history of blood vessel disease, history of lung disease including asthma, history of cancer, history of diabetes mellitus, history other chronic diseases, history of immune diseases or reduced immunity, obesity, or high body mass index (BMI >30) | ||
| Outcome of checklist 1: The athlete can continue with a self-administered exercise challenge test if:
If the athlete answered ‘No’ to any symptoms (question 1), but ‘Yes’ to risk factors (question 2), the athlete can cautiously continue with a self-administered exercise challenge test provided:
It is recommended that the athlete consult with a healthcare practitioner to re-assess the severity of the ARinf, and be fully evaluated if:
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| Checklist 2: A checklist performed by the Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) clinician before advising an athlete to start or continue exercise after an ARinf. | |||
| Checklist | Yes | No | |
| Question 1: Does the athlete have any of the following symptoms at rest? | Fever (raised body temperature) | ||
| Chills | |||
| Excessive fatigue/tiredness | |||
| General muscle aches and pains | |||
| Breathing difficulty, including fast breathing or shortness of breath | |||
| Chest pain, chest pressure, or chest tightness | |||
| Dizziness, palpitations/racing heart (faster than normal) at rest | |||
| Moderate to severe dry or wet cough | |||
| Severe headache | |||
| Persistent sand/or evere nose/throat symptoms (eg, blocked/plugged nose, runny nose, sinus pressure, sore/scratchy throat, or hoarseness) | |||
| Persistent abdominal symptoms after the infection (eg, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea) | |||
| Question 2: Does the athlete have any of the following clinical signs at rest? | Fever (Temperature >38°C) or elevated body temperature | ||
| Abnormal vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation on pulse oximetry—if indicated) | |||
| Abnormal clinical signs during a systematic examination of organ systems (NB: cardiovascular, respiratory, abdominal, neuromuscular) indicative of ongoing local/systemic infection or significant organ dysfunction | |||
| Question 3: Does the athlete have any of abnormal special investigation results? | Abnormalities in special investigations conducted to assess any organ systems (at rest): results need to be interpreted on an individual basis an in the clinical context | ||
| Question 4: Does the athlete have any of the following risk factors that are associated with more severe ARinf? | History of heart disease, history of blood vessel disease, history of lung disease including asthma, history of cancer, history of diabetes mellitus, history other chronic diseases, history of immune diseases or reduced immunity, obesity, or high body mass index (>30) | ||
| Outcome of checklist 2: An exercise challenge test can be performed to assess the response to exercise if:
The attending SEM clinician or other qualified health professional can decide on further assessment and treatment of the athlete on an individual basis if:
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