Prevalence and Severity of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Recreational and Elite Equestrian Athletes in Training and Competition: An Exploratory Analysis
Equestrian sports present a unique challenge to the rider's gastrointestinal (GI) tract and health as they meet nutritional requirements for performance, execute riding discipline-specific skills, and coordinate their hip and abdominal movements with their equine movement pattern. Additional ga...
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Rasayely
2025-02-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Equine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://rasayely-journals.com/index.php/ijes/article/view/149 |
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| author | Russ Best Jeni Pearce |
| author_facet | Russ Best Jeni Pearce |
| author_sort | Russ Best |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Equestrian sports present a unique challenge to the rider's gastrointestinal (GI) tract and health as they meet nutritional requirements for performance, execute riding discipline-specific skills, and coordinate their hip and abdominal movements with their equine movement pattern. Additional gastrointestinal challenges may result from the known gut-brain axis, as previous research reports a high rate of anxiety in equestrian athletes. A survey was administered to assess the prevalence and severity of gastrointestinal symptoms in recreational and elite equestrian athletes across a range of disciplines. Participants reported the prevalence of 12 symptoms on a 0–10 point scale and stool consistency using a modified validated questionnaire. Total symptom score, symptom perception, and symptom region (Upper GI tract, Lower GI tract, and Other) were assessed. A subset of elite riders repeated the questionnaire post-competition. Elite riders had a higher average total GI symptom score but did not differ significantly from the recreational sample (W = 438.50; p = 0.13; rB = 0.19; Small). There were no regional symptom differences between groups. The prevalence of all abnormal stool consistencies was higher in the elite sample compared to the recreational sample. Five elite athletes (25%) reported blood in the stool. Symptoms are not correlated with nor predicted by rider age or number of competitions performed per year (all p > 0.05; R2 = 0.10–0.59). Symptoms were not significantly different in competition. The majority of equestrians present with some GI symptoms, with a small proportion of elite and recreational riders showing symptoms that impair exercise performance. The questionnaire provides a useful starting point for athletes, coaches, and support personnel to understand the prevalence and severity of symptoms in equestrians. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-aa4fdf5e952f43e49b63758b98f8058c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2805-3109 2805-3117 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Rasayely |
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| series | International Journal of Equine Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-aa4fdf5e952f43e49b63758b98f8058c2025-08-21T09:56:37ZengRasayelyInternational Journal of Equine Science2805-31092805-31172025-02-0141112010.64292/ijes.149152Prevalence and Severity of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Recreational and Elite Equestrian Athletes in Training and Competition: An Exploratory AnalysisRuss Best0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9017-1513Jeni Pearce1Center for Sport Science & Human Performance, Waikato Institute of Technology, Hamilton 3200, New ZealandPerformance Nutrition, High Performance Sport New Zealand, Auckland 0632, New ZealandEquestrian sports present a unique challenge to the rider's gastrointestinal (GI) tract and health as they meet nutritional requirements for performance, execute riding discipline-specific skills, and coordinate their hip and abdominal movements with their equine movement pattern. Additional gastrointestinal challenges may result from the known gut-brain axis, as previous research reports a high rate of anxiety in equestrian athletes. A survey was administered to assess the prevalence and severity of gastrointestinal symptoms in recreational and elite equestrian athletes across a range of disciplines. Participants reported the prevalence of 12 symptoms on a 0–10 point scale and stool consistency using a modified validated questionnaire. Total symptom score, symptom perception, and symptom region (Upper GI tract, Lower GI tract, and Other) were assessed. A subset of elite riders repeated the questionnaire post-competition. Elite riders had a higher average total GI symptom score but did not differ significantly from the recreational sample (W = 438.50; p = 0.13; rB = 0.19; Small). There were no regional symptom differences between groups. The prevalence of all abnormal stool consistencies was higher in the elite sample compared to the recreational sample. Five elite athletes (25%) reported blood in the stool. Symptoms are not correlated with nor predicted by rider age or number of competitions performed per year (all p > 0.05; R2 = 0.10–0.59). Symptoms were not significantly different in competition. The majority of equestrians present with some GI symptoms, with a small proportion of elite and recreational riders showing symptoms that impair exercise performance. The questionnaire provides a useful starting point for athletes, coaches, and support personnel to understand the prevalence and severity of symptoms in equestrians.https://rasayely-journals.com/index.php/ijes/article/view/149horse ridinggut healthshow-jumpingeventingdressageelite athletesrecreational activity |
| spellingShingle | Russ Best Jeni Pearce Prevalence and Severity of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Recreational and Elite Equestrian Athletes in Training and Competition: An Exploratory Analysis International Journal of Equine Science horse riding gut health show-jumping eventing dressage elite athletes recreational activity |
| title | Prevalence and Severity of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Recreational and Elite Equestrian Athletes in Training and Competition: An Exploratory Analysis |
| title_full | Prevalence and Severity of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Recreational and Elite Equestrian Athletes in Training and Competition: An Exploratory Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and Severity of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Recreational and Elite Equestrian Athletes in Training and Competition: An Exploratory Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and Severity of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Recreational and Elite Equestrian Athletes in Training and Competition: An Exploratory Analysis |
| title_short | Prevalence and Severity of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Recreational and Elite Equestrian Athletes in Training and Competition: An Exploratory Analysis |
| title_sort | prevalence and severity of gastrointestinal symptoms in recreational and elite equestrian athletes in training and competition an exploratory analysis |
| topic | horse riding gut health show-jumping eventing dressage elite athletes recreational activity |
| url | https://rasayely-journals.com/index.php/ijes/article/view/149 |
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