Aldona Bartkevičienė

Abstract

Summary
The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of long-term physical load on changes in left ventricular morphometric parameters and to identify the factors influencing left ventricular myocardium mass in child and adolescent basketball players.
Material and methods. A total of 62 basketball players aged 12–17 years and 168 healthy nonathletic controls matched for age, height, and body mass index were involved in this study. Two-dimensional, M-mode, and Doppler echocardiography were used to evaluate left ventricular dimensions and function. Absolute parameters and parameters corrected for body surface area and height, left ventricular mass (LVM) and left ventricular mass index were calculated. Left ventricular fractional shortening was calculated as an index of systolic function, and E/A ratio was calculated for evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function. All participants performed a graded exercise test (Mc. Master) on a cycle ergometer. During cycle ergometer systolic blood pressure (SBP) was evaluated at rest and at peak of exercise.
Results. All absolute echocardiographic parameters in basketball players were significantly greater than analogous parameters in the control group. Left ventricular internal diameter at end diastole indexed to height, left ventricular fractional shortening and diastolic  function index – E/A ratio – did not differ between the groups. Left ventricular mass of basketball players was associated with age, body weight and training duration.
Conclusion. Our study demonstrated that echocardiographic parameters of child and adolescent basketball players statistically significantly exceeded the parameters of untrained controls.  Independent factors influencing left ventricular mass in basketball players were age, body weight and training duration.

Keyword(s): athletes, echocardiography; left ventricle, myocardium mass.
DOI: 10.5200/108
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