Int J Sports Med 2022; 43(02): 151-160
DOI: 10.1055/a-1524-2611
Training & Testing

Exercise Training Induces Left- but not Right-sided Cardiac Remodelling in Olympic Rowers

1   Department of Physiology, Research Insitute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
2   Department of Cardiology, Research Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
3   Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Nicole Panhuyzen-Goedkoop
4   Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, AMC Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
5   Sports Cardiology, Sports Medical Centre Papendal, Arnhem, Netherlands
,
Hugo Hulshof
2   Department of Cardiology, Research Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
,
Arie van Dijk
2   Department of Cardiology, Research Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
,
Keith George
3   Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
John Somauroo
3   Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
David Oxborough
3   Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Dick H.J. Thijssen
2   Department of Cardiology, Research Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
› Institutsangaben
Preview

Abstract

Whilst the athlete’s heart has been extensively described, less work has focused on the potential for elite athletes to demonstrate further cardiac remodelling upon an increase in training volume. Moreover, little work explored potential side-specific cardiac remodelling. Therefore, we examined the impact of an increase in training volume across 9-months in elite rowers on left- and right-sided cardiac structure, function and mechanics (i. e. longitudinal, radial and circumferential strain, twist and strain-volume loops). As part of the preparations to the 2012 Olympic Games, twenty-seven elite rowers (26.4±3.7years, 19 male) underwent echocardiography prior to and post (9 months) an increase in training volume (24 to 30–35 h weekly). Training increased left ventricular structure, including wall thickness, diameter, volume, mass and LV twist (all p<0.05). Female rowers demonstrated larger adaptation in left ventricular diameter and mass compared to male rowers (both p<0.05). No changes were observed in other measures of left ventricular function in both sexes (all p>0.05). The 9-month intervention showed no change in right ventricular/atrial structure, function or mechanics (all p>0.05). In conclusion, our data revealed that 9-month increased training volume in elite rowers induced left-sided (but not right-sided) structural remodelling, concomitant with an increase in left ventricular twist, with some changes larger in women.

Supplementary Material



Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 10. November 2020

Angenommen: 25. Mai 2021

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
10. August 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany