M. Haykowsky et al., EFFECTS OF COMBINED ENDURANCE AND STRENGTH TRAINING ON LEFT-VENTRICULAR MORPHOLOGY IN MALE AND FEMALE ROWERS, Canadian journal of cardiology, 14(3), 1998, pp. 387-391
The effects of 10 weeks of combined endurance and strength training on
left ventricular (LV) morphology, muscular strength, maximal oxygen c
onsumption (VO2max) and rowing performance were assessed. Twenty-five
subjects (eight males, mean age 23.0+/-6.1 years, and 17 females, 22.7
+/-5.0 years) were tested at baseline and after five and 10 weeks of t
raining. Combined training was associated with significant improvement
s in VO2max, rowing performance and muscular strength after 10 weeks o
f training. A significant increase in LV diastolic dimension was found
in males after 10 weeks of training; however, no significant alterati
on was found for any other measured echocardiographic variable. Theref
ore, with the exception of LV diastolic dimension in males, 10 weeks o
f combined endurance and strength training appears to be an insufficie
nt stimulus to elicit significant alterations in LV morphology despite
changes in VO2max, muscular strength or rowing performance.