Female Fitness Blog

Show You The Shape Of My Heart

Submitted by Fit and Female Blog

Scientists have know for years that regular exercise causes beneficial structural changes in the heart.  However, new research is showing that the changes which occur vary considerably based on the type of exercise done.

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital used echo-cardiograms to measure the hearts of collegiate level resistance athletes (football players) or endurance athletes (rowers) over the course of  their normal 90-day training periods.

While both groups had a significant overall size increase during that time period, their were sports-specific differences beyond that. 

Endurance athletes had an increase in the size of both the right and left ventricles (the part of the heart associated with bringing oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and out to the body). 

Resistance athletes, on the other hand, had a distinct thickening of the walls of the left ventricle. 

Not surprisingly, there was an associated difference in function, as well.  Endurance athletes had an increase in the length of the diastolic (or “resting phase”) of the heart.  While resistance athletes had a decrease in the diastolic phase, although both were within normal limits.

Researchers were surprised at the significance of these changes in such a short period of time. 

This new information points to the need for doctors to provide more specific recommendations about how much and which type of exercise should be done based on whether or not the person has a healthy heart — or a particular type of heart disease.

Geralyn Coopersmith, MA, CSCS is an exercise physiologist, certified personal trainer and the creator of The Best Me Ever, a comprehensive weight loss and wellness system just for women

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