Impact of 8-week endurance training on qualitative and quantitative parameters of stroke volume

• Main Authors: Suzana Pustivšek, Irena Auersperger, Branko Škof
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Slovenian Medical Association 2014-08-01
• Series: Zdravniški Vestnik
• Subjects: heart rate; female runners; stroke volume dynamics; plateau; aerobic capacity
• Online Access: http://vestnik.szd.si/index.php/ZdravVest/article/view/1254

<p><strong>Background</strong>: Dynamics of stroke volume during increasing progressive load varies widely among individuals. The data of current studies describing the impact of long-term endurance training on the dynamics of cardiac stroke volume are conflicting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of 8-week endurance training on the dynamics of stroke volume and some quantitative features of cardiac function in recreational female runners.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>: Measurements were performed in the physiological laboratory at the Institute of Sport, Faculty of Sport in Ljubljana. CosmedK4b2 equipment that allows continuous “on-line”, “breath-by-breath” monitoring of oxygen consumption and gases in exhaled air was used. Cardiac output was calculated by the method described by Stringer et al.</p><p><strong>Results</strong>: The results showed a significant increase in stroke volume at rest and during the first two minutes of the test. Maximum stroke volume did not increase, but there was a decrease in heart rate during maximal stroke volume from 126.65 (± 27.14) to 120.15 (± 26.56) beats per minute. The dynamics of stroke volume in a majority of participants did not change. The most common dynamics of stroke volume before and after test was plateau dynamics. The training resulted in an increase in running endurance and the average increase in running speed during the final test by 4.41 % (± 4.62).</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong>: The exercise resulted in minimal changes in cardiac function and a significant improvement in endurance parameters.</p>