Cardiac MRI of Elite Junior Olympic Weight Lifters

Abstract

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed on 14 junior elite Olympic weight lifters and 14 controls (x̄±Se, age=18.4±0.5 and 17.8±0.4 years, weight=76.5±3.6 and 78.8±3.3 kg, % fat = 6.5%±0.8% and 11.5%±1.7%, respectively). Controls were individually matched to the lifters to within 2 years of age and 2.5 kg of body weight. Systolic (S) and diastolic (D) left posterior wall thickness (LPW), left ventricular short axis (LSA), left ventricular transverse long axis (LLA), spetal wall thickness (SW), right ventricular wall thickness (RWT), and right ventricular short axis (RSA) were determined. Variables were examined in absolute (mm), relative to body surface area (BSA, mm/m²), total body weight (BW, mm/kg), and lean body mass (LBM, mm/kg) terms. In absolute terms S LPW (21.1±1.7 vs 13.3±0.5 mm), S SW (15.3±1.3 vs 11.7±0.6 mm), and D LLA (75.2±1.6 vs 69.1±2.4 mm) were significantly greater and S LSA (23.4±2.4 vs 36.7±2.3 mm) and S LLA (46.5±3.7 vs 58.2±3,8 mm) were significantly less in the lifters vs the controls. S LPW/BW, S LPW/BSA, S LPW/LBM, S SW/BW, S SW/BSA, S SW/LBM, D LSA/BSA, and D LLA/BSA were significantly greater and S LSA/BW, S LSA/BSA, S LSA/LBM, S LLA/BSA, S LLA/LBM, and D SW/LBM were significantly less in the lifters than the controls. The data indicate increased wall thickness and D internal dimensions of the left ventricle, decreased S internal dimensions of the left ventricle, and no effect upon the wall thickness or internal dimensions of the right ventricle occur due to Olympic weight lifting in junior elite Olympic-style weight lifters.

Key words

weight lifting - cardiac magnetic resonance imaging MRI