Echocardiographic Evaluation of Left Ventricle before and after Maximum Exercise in Track Athletes

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Long term athletic training is associated with an increase in left ventricular diastolic cavity dimension, wall thickness, and mass. These changes in left ventricular morphology represent an adaptation to increased ventricular load and are generally described as the “athlete's heart”. In the present study, we used echocardiography to evaluate the left ventricular structure and function in track athletes. METHODS: We studies 48 males(average age 22 years)by Doppler and echocardiography, which consisted of 12 normal controls, 36 track athletes(12 long distance track, 12 sprint, 12 jump). These athletes were trained regularly for 3-19 years(average 9±4 years). RESULTS: 1) At rest, left ventricular diastolic and systolic diameter, systolic interventricular septal wall thickness, diastolic and systolic posterior wall thickness, and left ventricular end diastolic and systolic dimension were larger in long distance track athletes than in the controls. 2) Left ventricular mass was larger in long distance track athltes and sprinter than controls. 3) After maximum exercise, left ventricular diastolic and systolic diameter, systolic interventricular septal wall thickness, diastolic and systolic posterior wall thickness, and left ventricular end diastolic and systolic dimension increased more significantly in long distance track athletes than in the controls. But, in sprinters, the left end systolic diameter, diastolic and systolic interventricular septal thickness, and left end diastolic and systolic dimensions were increased. 4) At rest, the E/A and Ei/Ai of the mitral flow in long distance track athletes increased more than in the controls. But there were no differences of parameters of mitral and aortic flow between long distance track athletes and controls after maximum exercise. CONCLUSIONS: The left ventricular mass of long distance and sprint track athletes were lager Than controls. In the long distance track athletes, the left ventricular structural and functional changes before and after maximum exercise were prominent. In the sprinters, after maximum exercise, the left ventricular structural and functional changes were prominent.