Abstract

Ten female cyclists, ten female long-distance runners and 24 control persons were compared. It was found that oxygen uptake was significantly better in the trained individuals and electrocardiographic changes in the form of increased tendency to sinus bradycardia, altered repolarization and left ventricular hypertrophy were found with the same frequencies as in previous investigations with trained persons. In one cyclist, ventricular escape rhythm was found at rest and, in one runner, second degree atrio-ventricular (A-V) block was found (Mobitz). The ECG changes were found to be normalized during exertion. Echocardiography revealed greater left ventricular internal diameter diastole (LVIDd) and increased thickness of the septum and left ventricular posterior wall in trained individuals whereas the left ventricular internal diameter systole (LVIDs) and the functional parameters including the systolic time-intervals were found to be the same. No echocardiographic differences were found between cyclists and runners. Verf.-Referat