Vascular Adaptation In Athletes Of Different Events

Abstract

The existence of “athlete’s heart” is generally accepted, but the question of whether athletes exhibit vascular adaptation has not been fully addressed. PURPOSE: Investigated the indexes of arteries to determine whether arterial adaptations induced by exercise exist. METHODS: Examined the arteries of the dominant (D) and nondominant (ND) limbs of athletes and inactive subjects by duplex ultrasound. RESULTS: 1. In tennis athletes, IMT-to-lumen of arteries were lower than controls (carotid D: 0.013 ± 0.003 vs. 0.015 ± 0.003, ND: 0.013 ± 0.002 vs. 0.015 ± 0.003; brachial D: 0.026 ± 0.002 vs. 0.039 ± 0.011, ND: 0.038 ± 0.009 vs. 0.042 ± 0.013; p < 0.05). We found larger cross-sectional area of brachial artery (D: 20.96 ± 1.79 mm2) relative to the ND side (16.72 ± 0.93 mm2, p < 0.05) and both sides of controls (D: 13.37 ± 0.92 mm2, ND: 13.37 ± 0.85 mm2; p < 0.05). 2. Football athletes demonstrated lower IMT-to-lumen compared with controls (carotid D: 0.013 ± 0.002 vs. 0.015 ± 0.003, ND: 014 ± 0.003 vs. 0.015 ± 0.003; brachial D: 0.031 ± 0.009 vs. 0.039 ± 0.011, ND: 0.034 ± 0.010 vs. 0.042 ± 0.013; radial D: 0.075 ± 0.014 vs. 0.089 ± 0.018, ND: 0.087 ± 0.027 vs. 0.106 ± 0.021; femoral D: 0.013 ± 0.003 vs. 0.016 ± 0.006, ND: 0.013 ± 0.004 vs. 0.017 ± 0.005; p < 0.05). We found larger cross-sectional area of femoral artery (D: 42.59 ± 1.88 mm2) relative to the ND side (36.70 ± 1.75 mm2, p < 0.05) and D side of controls (34.87 ± 1.50 mm2, p < 0.05). 3. Swimmers demonstrated lower IMT-to-lumen compared with controls (carotid D: 0.013 ± 0.003 vs. 0.015 ± 0.003, ND: 0.014 ± 0.002 vs. 0.015 ± 0.003; brachial D: 0.028 ± 0.004 vs. 0.039 ± 0.011, ND: 0.033 ± 0.006 vs. 0.042 ± 0.013; radial D: 0.071 ± 0.021 vs. 0.089 ± 0.018, ND: 0.085 ± 0.019 vs. 0.106 ± 0.021; femoral D: 0.013 ± 0.002 vs. 0.016 ± 0.006, ND: 0.014 ± 0.003 vs. 0.017 ± 0.005; p < 0.05). The cross-sectional area of brachial (D: 17.36 ± 0.90; ND: 16.83 ± 0.67 mm2) and femoral arteries (D: 41.33 ± 1.63; ND: 39.05 ± 1.28 mm2) were larger than controls (brachial D: 13.96 ± 0.95 mm2, ND: 13.37 ± 0.85; femoral D: 34.87 ± 1.50 mm2, ND: 34.55 ± 1.62 mm2; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that “athlete’s artery” has a systemic decreased wall thickness and a localized increased lumen area. These structural changes of artery are adaptations to exercise. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China 32071174.