Left ventricular response to submaximal exercise in endurance-trained athletes and sedentary adults

Abstract This investigation examines the hypothesis that athletes increase stroke volume with submaximal exercise through an augmentation of left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume and a reduction of LV end-systolic volume, whereas sedentary adults only increase stroke volume modestly, because LV end-diastolic volume does not increase. Upright bicycle exercise was performed by 17 endurancetrained male athletes and 15 sedentary men. Mmode echocardiograms were obtained during submaximal exercise at predetermined heart rates. Athletes, at a heart rate of 130 beats/min, increased their stroke volume 67% from 72 ± 18 ml to 120 ± 26 ml (p