Abstract
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed on 14 junior elite Olympic weight
lifters and 14 controls (x̄±Se, age=18.4±0.5 and 17.8±0.4 years, weight=76.5±3.6 and
78.8±3.3 kg, % fat = 6.5%±0.8% and 11.5%±1.7%, respectively). Controls were individually
matched to the lifters to within 2 years of age and 2.5 kg of body weight. Systolic
(S) and diastolic (D) left posterior wall thickness (LPW), left ventricular short
axis (LSA), left ventricular transverse long axis (LLA), spetal wall thickness (SW),
right ventricular wall thickness (RWT), and right ventricular short axis (RSA) were
determined. Variables were examined in absolute (mm), relative to body surface area
(BSA, mm/m2), total body weight (BW, mm/kg), and lean body mass (LBM, mm/kg) terms. In absolute
terms S LPW (21.1±1.7 vs 13.3±0.5 mm), S SW (15.3±1.3 vs 11.7±0.6 mm), and D LLA (75.2±1.6
vs 69.1±2.4 mm) were significantly greater and S LSA (23.4±2.4 vs 36.7±2.3 mm) and
S LLA (46.5±3.7 vs 58.2±3,8 mm) were significantly less in the lifters vs the controls.
S LPW/BW, S LPW/BSA, S LPW/LBM, S SW/BW, S SW/BSA, S SW/LBM, D LSA/BSA, and D LLA/BSA
were significantly greater and S LSA/BW, S LSA/BSA, S LSA/LBM, S LLA/BSA, S LLA/LBM,
and D SW/LBM were significantly less in the lifters than the controls. The data indicate
increased wall thickness and D internal dimensions of the left ventricle, decreased
S internal dimensions of the left ventricle, and no effect upon the wall thickness
or internal dimensions of the right ventricle occur due to Olympic weight lifting
in junior elite Olympic-style weight lifters.
Key words
weight lifting - cardiac magnetic resonance imaging MRI
