Effects of long term resistance training on left ventricular morphology

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of long term (mean +/- SD 10+/-5 years, r ange three to 25 years) resistance training on left ventricular (LV) dimens ions and mass. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study participants were 21 elite male powerlifters (age 33.4+/-5.9 years) and 10 sedentary male control subjects (age 30.9+/- 4.2 years). Two-dimensionally guided transthoracic M-mode echocardiograms w ere obtained at rest to quantify LV diastolic cavity dimension, posterior w all thickness, ventricular septal wall thickness and LV mass. Long term res istance training was not associated with an alteration in LV diastolic cavi ty dimension (resistance trained 54.4+/-4.3 mm versus control 51.8+/-5.6 mm ), ventricular septal wall thickness (resistance trained 9.7+/-1.0 mm versu s control 10.1+/-0.7 mm), posterior wan thickness (resistance trained 9.6+/ -1.5 mm versus control 9.3+/-1.4 mm) or LV mass (resistance trained 200.3+/ -32.5 g versus control 186.5+/-39.6 g). In addition, no resistance-trained athlete was found to have an LV mean wall thickness above clinical normal l imits (12 mm or less). CONCLUSION: Contrary to common beliefs, long term resistance training as pe rformed by elite male powerlifters does not after LV morphology.