Abstract

In the attempt to find morphological and functional parameters which could distinguish the physiological myocardial hypertrophy found in athletes from that observed in subjects with myocardial hypertrophy secondary to pathological conditions, groups of athletes were studied using computerised M-mode echocardiography. These athletes were engaged in either prevalently aerobic (cycling, canoeing) or prevalently anaerobic (weight lifting, wrestling, shot putting) activities. The results obtained showed that a difference in morphological adaptation of the heart to the extra load (prevalently hypertrophy without any increase in the ventricular diameter in the isometric athletes, and hypertrophy with an increase in the ventricular cavity in the isotonic athletes), was accompanied by corresponding diastolic function behaviour (lengthening of the diastole, reduction of the variation in ventricular geometry during isovolumetric relaxation, reduction of ventricular filling during atrial systole, nearly complete filling during the rapid filling phase). The data confirm the functional normality of the athletes heart, which, in fact, shows some super-normal characteristics. Verf.-Referat