Key result
Elite female water polo training is associated with increased dimensional parameters of the heart rather than high relative aerobic power, similar to findings in male players.
Cross-Sectional
Top-level female water polo training is associated with dimensional parameters of the heart rather than relative aerobic power, suggesting spiroergometric tests may be less appropriate for checking physical condition.
Spiroergometric testing may be less suitable than cardiac dimensional assessment for elite female water polo conditioning; extends male observations but remains hypothesis-generating.
In the authors' earlier study the relative aerobic power of Hungarian top-level male water polo players was found to be smaller than that of other top-level athletes, while their echocardiographic parameters proved to be the most characteristic of the athlete's heart. In the present investigation echocardiographic and spiroergometric data of female top-level water polo players were compared to those of other female elite athletes and of healthy, non-athletic subjects. Relative aerobic power in the water polo players was lower than in endurance athletes. Mean resting heart rates were the slowest in the water polo players and endurance athletes. Morphologic indicators of the heart (body size related left ventricular wall thickness and muscle mass) were the highest in the water polo players, endurance and power athletes. In respect of diastolic functions (diastolic early and late peak transmitral flow velocities) no difference was seen between the respective groups.These results indicate that, similarly to the males, top-level water polo training is associated with the dimensional parameters of the heart rather than with relative aerobic power. For checking the physical condition of female water polo players spiroergometric tests seem to be less appropriate than swim-tests with heart rate recovery studies such as the ones used in the males.
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Horváth et al. (2009) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy athletes. Elite water polo training vs. Other elite athletic training and no athletic training was evaluated on Echocardiographic and spiroergometric parameters. Elite female water polo training is associated with increased dimensional parameters of the heart rather than high relative aerobic power, similar to findings in male players.
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