Concentric myocardial hypertrophy after one-year of increased training volume in experienced distance runners

Tomas Venckunas ^1*, Arvydas Stasiulis ¹ and Rasa Raugaliene ²

¹ Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education, Lithuania
² Institute of Cardiology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Lithuania

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: t.venckunas{at}lkka.lt.

Accepted 16 May 2006

Abstract

Objectives: As evidence on the predominant type of cardiac hypertrophy due to endurance running training is inconsistent, the aim of this study was to investigate an impact of the increased training volume on echocardiographic parameters of distance runners.

Methods: Twenty-three adult experienced male distance runners underwent standard two-dimensionally guided M-mode and Doppler echocardiography before and after one-year period, during which they were randomly allocated to either control (n = 11) or intervention (n = 12) groups. Intervention group increased their training volume from (mean (SD)) 8.0 (3.0) to 12.5 (3.9) h/wk, while controls did not change.

Results: In intervention group, training induced increase in left ventricular (LV) mass (from 240.4 (53.8) to 279.5 (60.6) g, p<0.001) and LV mass index (from 126.7 (28.2) to 147.6 (32.3) g/m², p<0.001) mainly due to an increase in end-diastolic interventricular septum (from 10.4 (1.8) to 11.5 (1.7) mm, p<0.01) and LV posterior wall thickness (from 10.4 (1.6) to 11.5 (1.6) mm, p<0.001). No significant changes in LV internal diameter or measured indices of LV function occurred (p>0.05). The sum of right ventricular diameter and wall thickness was greater after the increased volume training (p<0.05). Any of the parameters changed significantly in the control group (p>0.05).

Conclusions: In experienced sub-elite distance runners, further expansion of training volume results in concentric cardiac hypertrophy.

Key Words: Anaerobic threshold, Echocardiography, Left ventricle, Running

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