Comparative echocardiographic studies in leading canoe-kayak and handball sportsmen

Echocardiographic data on 21 top-grade kayak- canoeists and 16 top-grade handball players are compared. While the end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters as well as end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes did not appreciably differ, the posterior wall and particularly the interventricular septum both in diastole and systole were significantly thicker in kayak- canoeists than in handball players. Also the left ventricular mass was considerably greater in the former group. The differences were even more striking when the parameters in question were calculated in relation to 1 kg body weight, 1 m-2 height and 1 m2 body surface area. Since the members of both groups were competitors at international level, it can be assumed that the differences are due to the different degree of strain placed on the heart in these sports.