ABSTRACT
To assess the effects of short term physical training on left ventricular dimensions and function, 12 young sedentery subjects were studied with echocardiography before and after 10 weeks of endurance physical conditioning consisted of a 3000 meter running protocol 3 days a week.<BR>Exercise training led to an increase in maximal oxygen uptake (Vo<SUB>2</SUB>max: 48.3±4.4 versus 60.0±6.2ml/kg/min: p<0.001) . This functional improvement, however, was not accompanied by any significant change in resting echocardiographic measurements including left ventricular dimensions, ejection fraction and mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening.<BR>On semi-supine exercise echocardiography no significant change was revealed after 10 weeks of physical training.<BR>This study suggests that short term physical training in young subjects result in significant increase in Vo<SUB>2</SUB>max but this functional improvement is not always associated with significant alterations in left ventricular dimensions and function as observed by echocardiogram.