An echocardiographic study of right and left ventricular adaptation to physical exercise in elite female orienteers

Background A considerable body of echocardiographic studies has described h ow athletic training induces morphological adaptation of the left ventricle in male endurance athletes, but only a few studies have described left ven tricular adaptation in female endurance athletes. In contrast to changes in the left ventricle far less attention has been directed towards right vent ricular changes due to extensive physical exercise. The purpose of this stu dy was to obtain normal values and to determine if there are any difference s in right and left ventricular cavity and wall dimensions between female o rienteers and females with a mainly sedentary lifestyle. Methods Echocardiography was performed in 42 highly trained elite female or ienteers and 32 healthy female students with a predominantly sedentary life style. The 74 females had no history of cardiac disease, a normal electroca rdiogram and showed no echocardiographic abnormalities. M-mode and two-dime nsional measurements of the right and left ventricular cavity and wall were obtained in elite orienteers and sedentary females. For the right ventricl e and wall, multiple cross-sections were used and measurements were obtaine d from the right ventricular inflow and outflow tract. Results The left ventricular end-diastolic cavity dimension and the left ve ntricular wall thickness were significantly greater in the athletes compare d with the sedentary controls. The right ventricular inflow tract measureme nts were all significantly greater in the orienteers compared with the cont rols but the right ventricular outflow tract measurements were comparable i n the study groups. The right ventricular wall thickness, calculated as the mean of three different wall measurements was an average of 13% greater in the athletes compared with the sedentary controls. Conclusion This study suggests symmetrical cardiac enlargement with a conco mitant increase in both the right and left ventricular wall, probably refle cting the increased haemodynamic loading in the female athletes.