Competitive cyclists exhibited significantly lower resting heart rates, longer PQ, QRS, and QTc intervals, and altered wave amplitudes compared to untrained matched controls.
Cross-Sectional (n=60)
Does competitive athletic training alter resting electrocardiogram parameters compared to untrained subjects?
Competitive cyclists exhibit distinct resting ECG adaptations, including lower heart rates, prolonged intervals, and altered wave amplitudes, compared to matched untrained controls.
The resting electrocardiograms of 30 cyclists currently involved in competitive sport were compared with those of an equal number of healthy controls matched for age, height, and weight. The cyclists had significantly lower heart rates, longer PQ,QRS, and QTc intervals, higher T waves in lead II, left axis deviation of the T wave, higher R waves in the right and deeper S waves in the left praecordial leads, and deeper S waves in the right and higher R waves in the left praecordial leads.The possible significance of these findings should be assessed by prolonged prospective studies in athletes and untrained control subjects.
Gänse et al. (1970) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy athletes (n=60). Competitive cycling vs. Untrained healthy controls was evaluated on Resting electrocardiogram parameters (heart rate, intervals, and wave amplitudes). Competitive cyclists exhibited significantly lower resting heart rates, longer PQ, QRS, and QTc intervals, and altered wave amplitudes compared to untrained matched controls.