Cardiac size of high-volume resistance trained female athletes: shaping the body but not the heart

Abstract

Introduction: Exercise training, besides many health benefits, may result in cardiac remodelling which is dependent on the type and amount of exercise performed. It is not clear, however, whether significant adaptation in cardiac structure is possible in females undergoing resistance type of exercise training. Rigorous high volume training of most muscle groups emphasising resistance exercises are being undertaken by athletes of some aesthetic sports such as female fitness (light bodybuilding). The impact of this type of training on cardiac adaptation has not been investigated until now. The aim of the current study was to disclose the effect of high volume resistance training on cardiac structure and function. Methods: 11 top-level female fitness athletes and 20 sedentary age-matched controls were recruited to undergo two-dimensional echocardiography. Results: Cardiac structure did not differ between elite female fitness athletes and controls (p > 0.05), and fitness athletes had a tendency for a smaller (p = 0.07) left ventricular (LV) mass indexed to lean body mass. Doppler diastolic function index (E/A ratio) and LV ejection fraction were similar between the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Elite female fitness athletes have normal cardiac size and function that do not differ from matched sedentary controls. Consequently, as high volume resistance training has no easily observable effect on adaptation of cardiac structure, when cardiac hypertrophy is present in young resistance-trained lean female, other reasons such as inherited cardiac disease are to be considered carefully.

Cardiac structure and function in elite female athletes: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Transthoracic echocardiography assessment of LV size revealed a 17% greater LVEDV (Doronina et al, 2018 ; Kooreman et al, 2019 ; Lakatos et al, 2018 ; Leischik & Spelsberg, 2014 ; Leischik et al, 2016 ; Malmgren et al, 2015 ; Sanz‐de la Garza et al, 2017 ; Zeldis et al, 1978 ) (72.9 vs. 61.0 ml/m 2 ; p < 0.001) and a 27% greater LVESV (Doronina et al, 2018 ; Lakatos et al, 2018 ; Leischik & Spelsberg, 2014 ; Leischik et al, 2016 ; Malmgren et al, 2015 ) in EA versus HC (30.3 vs. 22.1 ml/m 2 ; p < 0.001). LVEF (Doronina et al, 2018 ; Hedman et al, 2015 ; Kooreman et al, 2019 ; Lakatos et al, 2018 ; Leischik & Spelsberg, 2014 ; Leischik et al, 2016 ; Malmgren et al, 2015 ; Venckunas et al, 2016 ) tended to be lower by 3% in EA versus HC (59.9% vs. 61.9%; p = 0.21). Assessment of RV function revealed a 28% greater RVEDV (Doronina et al, 2018 ; Lakatos et al, 2018 ) (83.5 vs. 59.6 ml/m 2 ; p < 0.001) and a 37% greater RVESV (Doronina et al, 2018 ; Lakatos et al, 2018 ) in EA versus HC (37.1 vs. 23.0 ml/m 2 ; p < 0.001).…”

“…There were a total of 1734 results from the literature search with 22 studies meeting inclusion criteria (D’Ascenzi et al, 2017 ; Doronina et al, 2018 ; Hedman et al, 2015 ; Henriksen et al, 1999 ; Kooreman et al, 2019 ; Kramer et al, 2013 ; Lakatos et al, 2018 ; Leischik & Spelsberg, 2014 ; Leischik et al, 2016 ; Luijkx, Cramer, et al, 2012 ; Luijkx, Velthuis, et al, 2012 ; Malmgren et al, 2015 ; Mangold et al, 2013 ; Petersen et al, 2006 ; Prakken et al, 2010 , 2011 ; Sanz‐de la Garza et al, 2017 ; Steding‐Ehrenborg et al, 2016 ; Stolt et al, 2000 ; Venckunas et al, 2016 ; Zeldis et al, 1978 ). Of the studies that met the inclusion criteria, three were case series (Kooreman et al, 2019 ; Leischik & Spelsberg, 2014 ; Mangold et al, 2013 ), 16 were cross sectional (Doronina et al, 2018 ; Hedman et al, 2015 ; Henriksen et al, 1999 ; Kramer et al, 2013 ; Lakatos et al, 2018 ; Leischik et al, 2016 ; Luijkx, Cramer, et al, 2012 ; Luijkx, Velthuis, et al, 2012 ; Malmgren et al, 2015 ; Petersen et al, 2006 ; Prakken et al, 2010 , 2011 ; Sansonio de Morais et al, 2017 ; Sanz‐de la Garza et al, 2017 ; Stolt et al, 2000 ; Zeldis et al, 1978 ), and three were cohort (with historical control) studies (D’Ascenzi et al, 2017 ; Steding‐Ehrenborg et al, 2016 ; Venckunas et al, 2016 ). A total of 529 HC, 501 EA, 421 MA, and 78 strength athletes (SA) results were inc...…”

Investigating the effect of sex, maturity, training status, and physical activity on performance and health-related parameters in children, adolescents, and adults

“…Moreover, neither of the reviews (Lemez & Baker, 2015;Teramoto & Bungum, 2010a) sought to elucidate the potential influence of sport type on mortality differences. Sport type may moderate the relationship between intensive training and long-term health outcomes for many reasons, not least the considerable inter-sport differences in the type and volume of training, and the physiological and anthropometric characteristics associated with success (Castanheira et al, 2017;McKendry, Breen, Shad, & Greig, 2018;Venckunas, Simonavicius, & Marcinkeviciene, 2016;Williams, 2016). For example, there are considerable differences in physique according to sport, with power sports generally associated with a higher BMI, which is independently related to an increased risk of CVD and allcause mortality Keller, 2019; U. M. Kujala, Kaprio, Taimela, & Sarna, 1994b;Wang et al, 1994).…”