Cardiovascular adaptations to vigorous physical training, such as sinus bradycardia and increased heart size, reversed within 4 to 8 years after cessation of training, while increased muscle strength persisted longer.
Cohort (n=365)
Does cessation of physical training alter cardiovascular function and physical fitness in former Olympic athletes?
Cardiovascular adaptations to vigorous physical training, such as ECG changes and increased heart size, are reversible and do not persist long-term after cessation of training, unlike muscle strength.
This paper was aimed to evaluate cardiovascular function and physical fitness of athletes during active athletic life and after the cessation of physical training, and to discuss on cardiovascular future of ex-athletes. Subjects included 301 men and 64 women athletes who participated in Tokyo Olympic games. Four to 12 years' follow-up study was performed in 88 men athletes. (1) . The characteristic findings of ECG during active athletic period were sinus bradycardia, increased voltage of QRS, irbbb and first or second degree AV block. Ninety-five percents of cases with sinus bradycardia and all cases with AV block showed normal heart rate and normal AV conduction within 4 years the cessation of training. Irbbb persisted longer than other items and 60 percents of cases with irbbb had the similar findings 12 years after the cessation of training. (2) . Increased heart size observed during active athletic life returned to normal in 4 to 8 years after the cessation of training. (3) . Blood pressure was not changed before and after the cessation of training. (4) . Little changes were observed in grip strength, 12 years after the cessation of training. Although there was a slight decrease on back lift strength and ability of vertical jump 12 years after the cessation of training, they were still higher than normal. (5) . Havard step test score was obviuously decreased 12 years after the cessation of training, although it was still maintained highly than normal. From this study, it may be inferred that the effect of physical training to cardiovascular function does not persisit for a long time. On the contrary, increased muscle strength such as grip strength, back lift strength and vertical jump persist for a rather long time, once it was increased by vigorous physical training.
Murayama et al. (Tue,) conducted a cohort in Healthy athletes (n=365). Cessation of physical training vs. Active athletic training period was evaluated on Cardiovascular function (ECG, heart size) and physical fitness. Cardiovascular adaptations to vigorous physical training, such as sinus bradycardia and increased heart size, reversed within 4 to 8 years after cessation of training, while increased muscle strength persisted longer.