Physically Active Young Adults Exclusion Criteria

This study was conducted on 50 physically active young adults (males: n = 25; females: n = 25), although data analysis was performed on 21 males and 23 females due to exclusion criteria, discussed in the statistical analysis of the data (Table 1). There were significant differences between the genders in terms of height, mass and percentage body fat, but no differences in age, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio or weekly physical activity levels (Table 1). Participation was voluntary, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The study was approved by the Institution’s Biomedical Research Ethics Committee (REF: BE111/010).
Participants were excluded from the study if they had experienced a cold or feverish illness in the month leading up to the study, were smokers, had a pre-existing heart condition either current or in the past, were pregnant, diabetic, had congestive heart failure, or acute or chronic renal disease, if they have a pacemaker, or were taking type 1A anti-arrhythmics (quinidine, procainamide, disopyramide or moricizine).