Abstract des Autors

Training causes increased efficiency of the work of the heart with or without cardiac enlargement. Moderate training does not cause an increase in heart size and dimensions. Dynamic intensive training, as in long distance running and bicycling, promotes a true increase in left ventricular mass and heart volume. Static training increases absolute left ventricular mass, but only to the extent that lean body mass (muscle mass) increased. The heart volume remains unchanged. A rapid progress in cardiac dilation and hypertrophy in response to intensive dynamic training (over a few months) and a regression during resting periods was found. The changes seen in adults also occur in children before the age of puberty. However, there is no evidence that children develop greater hearts than other athletes who did not begin competitive sports in early childhood. Some questions related to the athlete's heart are still unresolved. Newer investigation methods such as echocardiography and radionuclide angiocardiogrpahy have given a better understanding of the changes that occur in different parts of the heart as a residue of training. Verf.-Referat