Cardiac functional adaptation to resistance and endurance exercise training: a randomized crossover study

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Exercise Science
• Cardiac Adaptation

Background:

• Few studies compare the cardiac effects of different exercise modalities.
• Understanding exercise-induced cardiac adaptations is crucial for optimizing training protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the distinct impacts of endurance (END) and resistance (RES) training on left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function.
• To compare cardiac structural and functional changes between END and RES training in healthy adults.

Main Methods:

• Randomized crossover trial with 64 healthy participants.
• 12 weeks of END and 12 weeks of RES training, separated by a 12-week washout period.
• Echocardiography assessed LV mass, ejection fraction (EF), global longitudinal strain (GLS), mitral valve early velocity (E), tissue Doppler velocity (e'), E/e' ratio, and left atrial volume indexed to body surface area (LA ESVi).

Main Results:

• Both END and RES training increased LV mass (LVM); LVM adjusted for lean body mass (LVMi) remained significant only after END.
• Endurance training improved diastolic function (reduced E/e') and increased LA ESVi.
• Resistance training increased LVM but did not significantly alter diastolic function or LA ESVi.
• Neither END nor RES training significantly affected EF or GLS.

Conclusions:

• Cardiac structural and diastolic function adaptations to exercise are mode-specific.
• Endurance training enhances diastolic function and left atrial volume, whereas resistance training primarily increases left ventricular mass.
• Systolic function remains unchanged following both endurance and resistance training in healthy individuals.