EVIDENCE OF CONCENTRIC CARDIAC ENLARGEMENT IN FEMALE WEIGHTLIFTERS

Abstract

774 The purpose of this study was to determine the nature of any cardiac adaptation in elite female weightlifters. Fifteen National Squad members (mean age±SD 25±6 years) were compared to a recreationally active control group (n=46, mean age±SD 23±3 years). Subjects were very closely matched for resting heart rate, blood pressures, body mass, body surface area and fat free mass. The controls were slightly but significantly taller (P<0.05). Septal wall (ST), posterior wall (PWT) and left ventricular internal dimension in diastole and systole (LVIDd, LVIDs) were measured from M-mode echocardiograms collected on all subjects at rest. Left ventricular mass (LVM) and systolic function measurements were calculated from these initial data. Left ventricular filling velocities were determined via Doppler echocardiography. Absolute ST (9.0±1.1 vs. 7.7±1.0 mm) and PWT (8.7±1.4 vs. 7.5±1.3 mm) were greater, whereas LVIDd(46.2±2.8 vs. 48.4±3.4 mm) was smaller (P<0.05) in the weightlifters. After allometrically adjusting for group differences in height the weightlifters had a significantly greater ST, PWT and LVM and similar LVIDd. All functional data were within normal limits and displayed no group differences. Female weightlifters in this study demonstrated a statistically significant degree of concentric left ventricular enlargement even after the removal of the influence of body dimension variables.