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Comparative Study
. 2018 Dec;111(6):772-781.
doi: 10.5935/abc.20180167. Epub 2018 Sep 21.

Comparison of Cardiac and Vascular Parameters in Powerlifters and Long-Distance Runners: Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Diego Vidaletti Silva  1 , Gustavo Waclawovsky  1 , Ana Beatriz Kramer  1   2 , Cinara Stein  1 , Bruna Eibel  1 , Guilherme Brasil Grezzana  1 , Maximiliano Isoppo Schaun  1 , Alexandre Machado Lehnen  1   2
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Comparison of Cardiac and Vascular Parameters in Powerlifters and Long-Distance Runners: Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Diego Vidaletti Silva et al. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2018 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Cardiac remodeling is a specific response to exercise training and time exposure. We hypothesized that athletes engaging for long periods in high-intensity strength training show heart and/or vascular damage.

Objective: To compare cardiac characteristics (structure and function) and vascular function (flow-mediated dilation [FMD] and peripheral vascular resistance [PVR]) in powerlifters and long-distance runners.

Methods: We evaluated 40 high-performance athletes (powerlifters [PG], n = 16; runners [RG], n = 24) and assessed heart structure and function (echocardiography), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP), FMD, PVR, maximum force (squat, bench press, and deadlift), and maximal oxygen uptake (spirometry). A Student's t Test for independent samples and Pearson's linear correlation were used (p < 0.05).

Results: PG showed higher SBP/DBP (p < 0.001); greater interventricular septum thickness (p < 0.001), posterior wall thickness (p < 0.001) and LV mass (p < 0.001). After adjusting LV mass by body surface area (BSA), no difference was observed. As for diastolic function, LV diastolic volume, wave E, wave e', and E/e' ratio were similar for both groups. However, LA volume (p = 0.016) and BSA-adjusted LA volume were lower in PG (p < 0.001). Systolic function (end-systolic volume and ejection fraction), and FMD were similar in both groups. However, higher PVR in PG was observed (p = 0.014). We found a correlation between the main cardiovascular changes and total weight lifted in PG.

Conclusions: Cardiovascular adaptations are dependent on training modality and the borderline structural cardiac changes are not accompanied by impaired function in powerlifters. However, a mild increase in blood pressure seems to be related to PVR rather than endothelial function.

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Conflict of interest statement

Potential Conflict of Interest

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow-mediated dilation measurements and peripheral vascular resistance. PG: powerlifters group, RG: long-distance runners group. The differences were assessed by Student’s t Test for independent samples.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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