The use of Doppler and atrioventricular plane motion echocardiography for the detection of changes in left ventricular function after training

In this study we compared the efficacy of Doppler and atrioventricular plan e motion echocardiography in detecting the changes in left ventricular func tion caused by moderate-intensity training. Fifty-nine healthy men and wome n (aged 40-68 years) were divided into either a group of walkers (n = 32) o r controls (n = 27). Pre-intervention, there were no significant difference s between the groups for gender, age, height, mass or predicted maximal oxy gen consumption. The walkers completed a progressive 18-week walking progra mme that resulted in an estimated mean gross energy expenditure whilst walk ing of 4.0 (1.3) MJ.week(-1) for the duration of the study, and 5.9 (1.7) M J.week(-1) during the final 6 weeks. Alter the 18-week programme there were no significant changes in Doppler measures of early or late filling veloci ties. However, the walkers showed an increase in the velocity of relaxation (1.2 cm . s(-1)) (P < 0.02) of the left free wall, as measured using atrio ventricular plane motion echocardiography, while the controls showed no sig nificant changes. The findings suggest that atrioventricular plane motion e chocardiography is more sensitive than Doppler echocardiography in detectin g the left ventricular changes caused by exercise intervention.