Effect of moderate exercise on esophageal function in asymptomatic athletes

It has been thought that upper intestinal symptoms of heartburn, regurgitation, belching, and chest pain experienced during exercise may represent esophageal dysfunction. The aim of this study is to examine esophageal function during moderate exercise in asymptomatic healthy athletes. Six healthy male athletes were exercised for 2 h on a treadmill set at a workload of 50% of their maximum oxygen uptake. Esophageal motility studies were performed immediately before, immediately after, and 1 h after the exercise. The mean lower esophageal sphincter pressure increased from a base line of 24 to 32 mm Hg immediately postexercise (p less than .01), reducing to 27 mm Hg after 1 hour rest. The mean amplitude and duration of esophageal peristalsis remained unchanged throughout the study. The significance of the lower esophageal sphincter pressure increase with moderate exercise is unknown but may relate to the observed exercise-induced increase in serum motilin, gastrin, and catecholamines.