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[Left ventricular function and cardiovascular adaptation to exercise in young sportsmen]
Archives Des Maladies Du Coeur Et Des Vaisseaux
|April 1, 1987
Summary
The term "sports heart" is not definitively applicable to children, as intensive training showed few cardiovascular differences compared to normal activity. Young athletes exhibited enhanced exercise performance but no significant structural or functional heart changes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Sports Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- The concept of a
- sports heart
- is often discussed in adult athletes.
- Its applicability and objective definition in children undergoing intensive training remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cardiovascular adaptations in young athletes.
- To determine if the term
- sports heart
- can be objectively defined in children.
Main Methods:
- Studied 40 young athletes (mean age 12.2 years) training ~12 hours/week and 40 controls.
- Utilized routine cardiovascular exams, echocardiography, and exercise stress tests.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in left ventricular structure or function between athletes and controls.
- Athletes showed improved exercise duration and maximal oxygen consumption.
- Athletes exhibited a greater fall in diastolic blood pressure during exercise, suggesting enhanced peripheral vascularization.
Conclusions:
- Few cardiovascular differences were observed between trained child athletes and normally active children.
- Current training durations may be insufficient for substantial cardiovascular adaptations to establish in this age group.