Prevalence of the infinite tone phenomenon after the submaximal PWC170 test in adolescent male athletes aged 11-17 years

Abstract

Purpose. The infinite tone phenomenon (ITP), defined as the absence of Korotkoff phase V during blood pressure measurement, is observed more frequently in sports medicine following controlled physical exercise than in general clinical practice. Despite reported prevalence rates of up to 57.5% among athletes, its clinical significance and the need for individual clinical assessment remain debated. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of ITP following submaximal PWC170 testing in adolescent male athletes aged 11–17 years. Materials & Methods. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using data from routine medical examinations at the Zaporizhzhya Medical and Sports Dispensary (2021–2022). The study included 471 male athletes aged 11–17 years (soccer, swimming, handball) divided into two groups: ITP group (n=249) and non-ITP group (n=222). Physical work capacity was assessed using the PWC170 submaximal test. HR and BP were measured at rest, after each exercise bout, and during recovery.