Petkowicz, R. O., Horowitz, E. S., & Meyer, F. (2003). Left ventricular structure in male adolescent swimmers athletes. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 35(5), Supplement abstract 1763.

Male adolescent (~15.8 yr) swimmers (N = 15), who had trained for at least 12 hours per week for two years, were compared to a non-training group (N = 8) with similar anthropometric dimensions.

Swimmers showed a significantly greater left ventricular diastolic internal diameter, interventricular septum, and left ventricular posterior wall when compared to non-trainers. Left ventricular mass and deceleration time were increased in swimmers. Systolic, diastolic, and global heart functions were similar between groups.

Implication. Swimming training increases left ventricular size and thickness while maintaining normal systolic, diastolic, and global heart functions.

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