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Gajda R, Kowalik E, Rybka S, Rębowska E, Śmigielski W, Nowak M, Kwaśniewska M, Hoffman P, Drygas W. Evaluation of the Heart Function of Swimmers Subjected to Exhaustive Repetitive Endurance Efforts During a 500-km Relay. Front Physiol 2019; 10:296. [PMID: 30967795 PMCID: PMC6438895 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Knowledge of the human body's ability to adapt to repeated endurance efforts during swimming is limited. We echocardiographically assessed the impact of an exhausting and repetitive swimming effort on cardiac activity. Materials: Fourteen well-trained amateur swimmers (8 female swimmers aged 16-43 years and 6 male swimmers aged 13-67 years old) participated in an ultramarathon relay. Over 5 days, swimmers swam 500 km in the Warta River (in 5-km intervals). Each swimmer swam seven intervals, each within 44:46 to 60:02 min. Objective difficulties included low water temperatures, strong winds, rain, and night conditions. Methods: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed three times: at baseline (the day before exertion), at peak effort, and during recovery (48 h after the event). The heart rate (HR) of each swimmer was monitored. Results: Swimmers completed the ultramarathon relay within approximately 91 h. The average HR value at the end of each interval was 91% HRmax. TTE test results showed no significant changes indicative of deterioration of myocardial function at peak effort or after 48 h. Significant increases in left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, LV fractional shortening (LVFS), LV myocardial systolic velocity, and right ventricular (RV) fractional area changes observed on day 2 after swimming were compared to baseline values and peak effort values. No significant changes in diastolic heart function were observed. Conclusion: Echocardiography assessment indicated that prolonged intense swimming does not affect LV or RV function. Supercompensation of the post-event RV function and increased global LV systolic function demonstrated ventricular interaction after prolonged intense swimming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Gajda
- Center for Sports Cardiology, Gajda-Med Medical Center, Pultusk, Poland
| | - Ewa Kowalik
- Department of Congenital Heart Diseases, The Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński Institute of Cardiology, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Sławomir Rybka
- Internal Diseases Department, Hospital in Śrem, Śrem, Poland
| | - Ewa Rębowska
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
| | - Witold Śmigielski
- Department of Epidemiology, Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, The Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński Institute of Cardiology, Warszawa, Poland.,The Unit of Demography and Social Gerontology, University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
| | - Michał Nowak
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
| | | | - Piotr Hoffman
- Department of Congenital Heart Diseases, The Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński Institute of Cardiology, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Wojciech Drygas
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland.,Department of Epidemiology, Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, The Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński Institute of Cardiology, Warszawa, Poland
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