Influence of Repeated Bouts of Table Tennis Training on Cardiac Biomarkers in Children

Abstract

It is documented that exercise can increase serum cardiac troponins in adults and adolescents; however, there is a lack of related studies concerning the release of cardiac troponins in children. This study investigated the influence of table tennis training on cardiac biomarkers in children. Twenty-eight male children performed six 10-min forehand exercise sessions with 5-min recovery intervals. Serum cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and I (cTnI), and creatinine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) were assessed before exercise, immediately after the last 10 min of exercise (PEI), 4 h post-exercise (PE4), 24 h post-exercise (PE24), and 48 h post-exercise (PE48). Cardiac function was measured using an ultrasound system (GE Vivid7 Dimension) at rest state. Serum cTnT, cTnI, and CK-MB were significantly elevated from the PEI sample point, and returned to baseline at the PE48 sample point in children. Serum cTnT in four (14.29%), nine (32.14%), and two (7.14%) subjects at the PEI, PE4, and PE24 sample points, respectively, exceeded the cutoff for myocardial injury. At the PE4 sample point, cTnT in five subjects (17.86%) exceeded the cutoff for acute myocardial infarction. Serum cTnI in two (14.29%), seven (25%), and two (7.14 %) subjects at the PEI, PE4, and PE24 timepoints, respectively, exceeded the cutoff for myocardial injury. cTnI in two subjects (7.14%) exceeded the cutoff for acute myocardial infarction at the PE4 timepoint in children. Repeated bouts of table tennis forehand training can significantly increase the release of serum cardiac troponins in some children.