Left ventricular diastolic mechanics in trained athletes during submaximal exercise using speckle tracking echocardiography

This thesis investigated sport specific responses of diastolic mechanics at rest and during submaximal exercise. Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) was used to assess diastolic mechanics at rest and whilst triathletes (TRI, n=9, 32 ± 7 years), long distance runners (LDR, n=7, 34 ± 3 years), resistance trained (RT, n=5, 24 ± 5 years) and untrained controls (CON, n=5, 29 ± 5 years) performed dynamic and static exercise. Cycling consisted of 5 minute stages at 30% and 60% maximum workload (Wmax), and leg extension involved 15 second contractions at 40% and 75% maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). Peak untwisting velocity (PUV), apical and basal rotation velocities did not differ between groups at rest or during exercise (p>0.05). PUV increased in TRI from rest to 30% and 60% Wmax (p0.05, p0.05, respectively) and 60% Wmax (p=0.018, p>0.05, p>0.05, respectively). PUV did not change from rest to 40% (p>0.05) and 75% MVIC in TRI, LDR, CON (p>0.05) and RT (p