How to Read an EKG for Fighters: The Ringside Safety Breakdown

Ringside Medicine 101 is back — and today we’re breaking down one of the most important tools in fighter safety: the EKG. As a ringside physician, I’ve seen how fast cardiac issues can hide beneath elite conditioning. A clean physical exam isn’t enough. An EKG can reveal silent risks like long QT syndrome, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, WPW, and repolarization patterns that only appear under stress, dehydration, or adrenaline. In this video, I’ll walk you through how to read an EKG specifically in combat-sport athletes — using the International Criteria (IC), lead-by-lead interpretation, QTc evaluation, red flags, and real ringside decision-making. Whether you’re a physician, athletic trainer, coach, fighter, or part of a promotion, this video will make you better prepared to protect athletes at every event. What you’ll learn in this episode: • Why fighters should get annual ECG/EKG screening • The International Criteria (IC) for athlete EKG interpretation • What’s normal, borderline, and abnormal in trained athletes • T-wave inversion patterns that matter • How to measure and interpret QTc correctly • When to pull a fighter from competition • Next steps for abnormal findings • How ringside physicians document and communicate decisions Ringside Network exists to educate, equip, and empower the next generation of combat-sports physicians. If you’re building a career in sports medicine or ringside coverage, this is the video you need. Stay dynamic. Ringside Medicine Gear & Links These are the exact tools I bring to every boxing and MMA event as a ringside physician. Every item listed below is part of my actual medical setup, packed and ready for real competition coverage. ⸻ 🥊 Ringside Bag #1 – Core Physician Kit • Stethoscope – 3M Littmann Classic III Monitoring Stethoscope (27” Black) https://amzn.to/4pAn3Bv • Blood Pressure Monitor https://amzn.to/42C8m73 • MedPride Powder-Free Nitrile Exam Gloves (size variant) https://amzn.to/423PU7e • Silver Nitrate Caustic Sticks, 6” (Pack of 100) https://amzn.to/4mvHA7w • BleedStop First Aid Powder Strip (Pack size per listing) https://amzn.to/46MytdU • Sterile Gauze Pads 4x4, 12-ply (qty per listing) https://amzn.to/4gvM4tk • Sterile Skin Stapler, 35 Wide Staples https://amzn.to/3KaV4s1 • Minor Laceration Tray w/Instruments https://amzn.to/4nFNhkd • Lidocaine HCl Injection, Fliptop Multiple Dose Vial, 50 mL (McGuff) https://www.mcguff.com/lidocaine-for-injection?productId=3108 • Insulin Syringes U-100 31G 1ml/cc 5/16” (8mm) Pack of 100 Pcs https://amzn.to/46NkWmu • No-Touch Infrared Thermometer (Adults/Kids) https://amzn.to/47OsGFP • Fingertip Pulse Oximeter (with silicone cover, batteries, lanyard) https://amzn.to/3Iz2AMC • Premium First Aid Kit, 300 Pieces https://amzn.to/4nDGCab • Elastic Bandages / Wraps – Expanding File Organizer with 8 Pockets (used as bandage organizer) https://amzn.to/4myksW1 • ExcelMark Custom Self-Inking Stamp (Personalized) https://amzn.to/46yb8eS • McKesson Instant Cold Packs 6” x 9” [24 Pack] https://amzn.to/4gzJzXd • Medical Penlight No-Glare for Doctor https://amzn.to/4gAbW7p ⸻ 🩺 Ringside Bag #2 – Supplemental & Trauma Support • 12-Channel ECG/EKG Monitor (portable; with waveform demo/recording per listing) https://amzn.to/4nIRy6G • Portable Oxygen Concentrator (1–5 L adjustable, ~93% stated; home/travel) https://amzn.to/42qDNBt ⸻ ⚠️ Affiliate Disclosure As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links are affiliate links, meaning I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. ⸻ 🌐 Find More at: https://www.dynamo.health 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctordynamo/ #RingsideNetwork #DoctorDynamo #SportsMedicine #EKG #ECG #CombatSportsMedicine