To demonstrate the influence of exercise training on the lipoprotein cholesterol fractions (high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), 65 male patients were examined for cardiovascular function and lipid metabolism, before starting or after having participated in a coronary training group for more than one year. There were notable improvements not only in the physical performance data of the trained patients in reference to the tested maximal performance capacity per body weight (MPC/W) as well as the calculated heart volume performance ratio (HVPR) (MPC/W, + 26.0%; HVPR, -18.0%), but also in the lipoprotein cholesterol values and the calculated risk quotient of HDL and total cholesterol (HDL cholesterol, +5.1 mg/dl; LDL cholesterol, -23.3 mg/dl; VLDL cholesterol, -12.5 mg/dl; HDL/total cholesterol, +0.038). The results indicate the positive effect of physical training on lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, and also in CHD patients in coronary training groups.

Anthropometry↗

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Myocardial oxygen consumption and substrate uptake in man during physiological and pathological volume load.

It is shown in trained and untrained healthy individuals that the energy requirement of the physiologically hypertrophied heart is lower at rest and even more pronounced during submaximal heavy exercise compared to the non-hypertrophied state. This difference exceeds the changes which could have been anticipated by deviations in hemodynamics and total heart weight. In patients with mild or moderate aortic insufficiency the energy expenditure of the pathologically hypertrophied heart per unit tissue mass is comparable to the non-hypertrophied state at rest or during exercise. It is increased in severe aortic regurgitation or additional myocarditis. The transition from compensation to failure may be associated with a steep decreased of the metabolic and flow reserve of the whole heart.

Cardiomegaly↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Studies on the regulation of myocardial blood flow in man. I.: Training effects on blood flow and metabolism of the healthy heart at rest and during standardized heavy exercise.

In a comparative study 11 athletes and 11 untrained students were investigated at rest, of these 6 trained and 5 untrained individuals during exercise as well. Myocardial blood flow was measured by the argon method. Myocardial oxygen consumption, myocardial substrate uptake of glucose, lactate, and free fatty acids and cardiac output were determined by the direct Fick principle. Exercise was standardized according to 65% of an individual's maximal oxygen uptake (delta VO2 max). Coronary flow reserve was determined by dipyridamole injections. All measurements were made during hemodynamic and respiratory steady-state conditions with the subject in a supine position. At rest, myocardial blood flow and myocardial oxygen consumption were significantly lower in trained subjects compared to the untrained ones. These differences were more pronounced during heavy exercise. They cannot be explained completely by hemodynamic parameters. - During exercise, myocardial substrate uptake shifted to a predominant lactate uptake of almost 90% of total substrate uptake. Total substrate uptake as well as lactate uptake correlated significantly with myocardial oxygen. - Coronary flow reserve was lower in the trained group. It is concluded that the heart muscle of a trained individual requires less energy at a given work load than in the untrained state.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Physical performance and cardiovascular and metabolic adaptation of elite female wheelchair basketball players in wheelchair ergometry and in competition.

Spinal cord injury leads to a pronounced reduction of cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic ability. Physical activity, up to and including high-performance sports, has obtained importance in the course of rehabilitation and the postclinical phase. Thirteen elite female wheelchair basketball players from the German National Basketball Team and 10 female sedentary spinal cord-injured persons were examined in the study. Heart volume was measured by an echocardiography. All subjects underwent a graded exercise test on a wheelchair ergometer. Additionally, heart rate, lactate, and player points were measured during a competitive basketball game in wheelchair basketball players. Cardiac dimensions were larger for spinal cord-injured wheelchair basketball players (620.3 ml; 9.6 ml x kg(-1)) in comparison with spinal cord-injured persons (477.4 ml; 8.2 ml x kg(-1)) but did not exceed the heart volume of untrained nonhandicapped persons. In contrast, athletes with amputations or those having had poliomyelitis reached training-induced cardiac hypertrophy in relation to body mass (713.7 ml; 13.2 ml x kg(-1)), as observed in nonhandicapped athletes. During graded wheelchair ergometry, wheelchair basketball players showed a higher maximal work rate (59.9 v 45.5 W), maximal oxygen consumption (33.7 v 18.3 ml x min(-1) x kg(-1)), and maximal lactate (9.1 v 5.47 mmol x l(-1)) without a difference in maximal heart rate and workload at AT4 than did spinal cord-injured persons. The average heart rate during the wheelchair basketball game was 151 x min(-1), and the lactate concentration was 1.92 mmol x l(-1). Female athletes with a less severe handicap and higher maximal oxygen consumption during the graded exercise test reached a higher game level in the evaluation. During the competitive basketball game, high cardiovascular stress was observed, indicating a fast aerobic metabolism; the anaerobic lactic acid capacity played a subordinate role. Wheelchair basketball is an effective and suitable sport to enhance physical performance and to induce positive physiological adaptations.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Sports and diet--an ambulatory program for obese children].

In an out-patient programme, 18 obese children aged 9-13 years were attended to for 1 year. The project consisted of an exercise programme performed 3 times per week, dietary restriction to 1200 kcal/d and psychological approach. The aim, besides weight reduction and acquisition of a healthy individual nutrition habit, was to improve physical performance and to increase self-confidence. All children improved physical and coordinative capacity and staying power and showed considerably more self-confidence. Weight reduction to a level below 20% overweight was achieved in the group of 12-13 years of age, whereas younger children showed minor weight loss. In the early period of treatment, HDL-cholesterol generally decreased but increased within 4-5 months exceeding pretreatment levels. No vitamin deficiencies occurred.

Child↗