Presentation Notes

Slides 1
Welcome to my presentation. My thesis is about Exercise-Induced Headaches among Tier 3
athletes. The study explores the triggers, experiences, and management strategies that relate to
EIH. Indeed, EIH affects the athletic community, limiting their general health and performance.
The study focuses specifically on the Tier 3 athletic community; which is unique and often
ignored.
Slides 2
The condition of EIH is a common headache resulting from physical exertion. The severity of the
condition varies from debilitating to mild and affects amateur athletes to professionals. While the
condition affects the athletic community, it remains mainly ignored, calling for further analysis
and research. It is crucial to comprehend the way the conditions work, and ways to manage them,
to enhance the performance and well-being of the athletes.
Slides 3
As mentioned earlier, EIH remains faintly understood. There is less information on the
prevalence, triggers, and ideal management strategies of the condition. With a specific aim of the
tier 3 athletes, the study aims to fill the gap and contribute through offering data and insights that
can assist for future research.
Slides 4
The primary objective of this study is to thus investigate the cases of EIH, understand the
intricacies of their experiences, and the ideal strategies of EIH management. The insights
obtained from the study thus focus specifically on Tier 3 athletes to address the gap that exists in
the literature and applies to the group.
Slides 5
The theoretical framework for the research is based on research on headache disorders and its
theories like muscular theories and headache etiology. Earlier research in the field has pinpointed
various factors for the occurrence of EIH, with factors like high-intensity workouts, and
dehydration. The study is thus based on these theories in the bid to comprehend the context of
EIH among Tier 3 athletes.
Slides 6
The hypotheses for the occurrences of EIH include; dehydration is a core factor that causes the
occurrence of EIH. Additionally, the intensity of the exercise affects the severity and frequency
of the conditions. And finally, the levels of stress and diet all have a role in the onset of the
condition. The hypotheses that are mentioned are derived from a thorough review of the existing
literature.
Slide 7
The study utilized mixed-method research whereby a detailed review of the literature and survey
was incorporated. The raw was obtained and cleaned and the result was feedback from 67
participants. For purposes of the study, the age range that was targeted was between 18 and 40,
equal distribution of the male and female genders is equal, and the different sports groups are
represented like wrestling, judo, and softball.
Slides 8
The spectrum of the survey questions included the severity of EIH, the triggers, and the
management strategies that athletes had incorporated to manage it. Afterward, the data was then
analyzed with the use of statistical methods to determine if there were any underlying
correlations and patterns. With the approach, it is possible to effectively be able to find the
factors that result in EIH among the participants with ease and efficiency.
Slides 9
The study findings present a prevalence rate of EIH to be at 41.8%. Specifically between the
ages of 18 to 40, the prevalence was 24%. Women's gender recorded a high prevalence at 40%
and the male had a comparably lower prevalence of 19%. The subgroups in the subgroups
uncovered that judo athletes were highly prevalent at 33.3%, followed by wrestling and softball
with a percentage of 16.8%.
Slides 10
Among the top causes of EIH is dehydration which was majorly attributed to 44% of the study
participants. The other factors that lead to the condition include the intensity of the training, the
stress levels, and diet. The different factors can interact and hence impact the severity and
likelihood of EIH in different dimensions. For example, training under a high intensity and
consuming less liquids for hydration increase the chances of EIH.
Slides 11
The findings from the study highlight the nature of EIH, in that it is multifactorial and entails
different factors like exercise intensity, hydration levels, and stress levels that enhance the
chances of experiencing the condition. Further, environmental factors like altitude and nutrition
also affect EIH. The findings here correlate with the earlier studies that recommended tailored
strategies for managing EIH.
Slides 12
The practical implications from the study thus pinpoint the necessity for incorporating tailored
management practices to assist the athletes in managing EIH. The recommendations thus entail
looking at the hydration practices, incorporating effective techniques for managing stress, and
appropriate training regimens that could assist handle the likelihood of managing headaches.
Hence, sports organizations and coaches should implement strategies to assist the general well-
being and performances of the athletes.
Slides 13
To conclude, the study presented the highly prevalent cases of EIH amongst tier-3 athletes and
highlighted some of the core factors that resulted in it like dehydration, stress, and training
intensity. There is a continued need for further research and analysis to assist in better
management of EIH and supporting the athletes.
Slides 14
Future research in the field could look toward a larger sample size and longitudinal studies to
provide even more insights concerning EIH. Looking at the additional factors like genes and
environment provides insights toward understanding the pathophysiology of EIH and hence
assists towards the development of management of effective strategies that could enhance the
health and performance of the athletes.