Abstract

Echocardiographic data of top rank athletes were compared. Of the subjects 21 were paddlers (kayak and canoe) and 16 were handball players. While enddiastolic and end-systolic diameters and volumes of the left ventricle did notshow any appreciable between-groups difference, the thickness of the posteriorventricular wall, and especially that of the interventricular spetum, was significantly greater in the paddlers than in the handball palyers. Estimated volume of myocardial muscle mass too was considerably larger in the paddlers. These differences became even more marked when these parameters were related tto body weight, height or body surface area. Since both groups consisted of competitors of international rank, the observed differences are likely to havedeveloped owing to the dissimilar demands these events place upon the heart. Verf.-Referat