Relationship between echocardiogram and physical parameters in experienced resistance trainers: a pilot study

Daniel Hackett; Lachlan Mitchell; Jillian Clarke; Amanda Hagstrom; Justin Keogh; Chris McLellan

doi:10.23736/S0022-4707.20.11615-3

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Relationship between echocardiogram and physical parameters in experienced resistance trainers: a pilot study

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Relationship between echocardiogram and physical parameters in experienced resistance trainers: a pilot study

Daniel Hackett, Lachlan Mitchell, Jillian Clarke, Amanda Hagstrom, Justin Keogh and Chris McLellan

Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, Vol.61(9), pp.1290-1300

2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.20.11615-3

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https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.20.11615-3View

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Abstract

Athlete heart

Bodybuilding

Powerlifting

Heart function

Training adaptation

BACKGROUND: A paucity of research exits concerning physiological factors influencing heart structure and function in strength athletes. This pilot study investigated whether body composition and muscle performance is associated with indices of cardiac structure and function in experienced resistance trainers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study designed was employed to address the study aim. Seventeen males (median age 33.0 years) and eight females (median age 32.5 years) with backgrounds in bodybuilding and powerlifting participated in this study. Muscle performance, body composition and echocardiographic measures were performed. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to examine differences between males and females. Spearman's Rho partial correlation analyses (adjusting for sex) were conducted to examine relationships between physical and echocardiogram parameters. RESULTS: Moderate to strong positive correlations were found between fat-free mass and aortic root, right ventricular internal dimension, interventricular septum thickness, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, left atrium area, left ventricular end-diastolic volume, and left ventricular end-systolic volume (r = 0.43-0.76, p = ≤0.03). Moderate to strong positive correlations were found between leg press 1RM and aortic root, left ventricular internal dimension diastole, eft atrium area, left ventricular end-diastolic volume, and left ventricular end-systolic volume (r = 0.49-0.67, p ≤0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Resistance trainers with greater fat-free mass and lower body strength appear to have larger cardiac structures. Changes in heart size and function are likely to result from long-term strenuous resistance training. Due to the suspected prevalence of performance enhancing drug use among powerlifters and bodybuilders, care is required to rule out pathological conditions.

Details

Title: Relationship between echocardiogram and physical parameters in experienced resistance trainers: a pilot study
Authors: Daniel Hackett (Author) - University of Sydney
Lachlan Mitchell (Author) - University College Dublin
Jillian Clarke (Author) - University of Sydney
Amanda Hagstrom (Author) - UNSW Australia
Justin Keogh (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Chris McLellan (Author) - University of Southern Queensland
Publication details: Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, Vol.61(9), pp.1290-1300
Publisher: Edizioni Minerva Medica
DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.20.11615-3
ISSN: 1827-1928
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99495708502621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Sport Sciences

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