Evaluation of Right Ventricular Changes by Echocardiography in Military Personnel Participating in Endurance or Strength Exercises: A Randomized Clinical Trial

With regular exercise, the heart undergoes structural and functional changes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the right ventricular changes by echocardiography in military personnel participating in endurance or strength training.

This clinical trial was performed on 40 male military students at a military medical university in Tehran, Iran in 2018. Echocardiography was performed for all subjects at the baseline and clinical data were recorded and then the subjects were randomly divided into two groups. For one group endurance training and for the other group strength training was performed professionally for 10 weeks under the supervision of a sports coach. Echocardiography was performed for both groups after the end of the training and clinical data were recorded and changes were evaluated and analyzed.

Mean age and clinical data at baseline were not significantly different between the two groups. At the end of the study, after 10 weeks of exercise, a significant increase in RVAD and E/e 'was observed in either endurance or strength groups. The E/e', SWDT and Relative wall thickness showed a significant increase in the strength group compared to the endurance group. The exercise intervention decreased the RVAS in both groups, which was significant in endurance group. In SWDT and LV mass index, only significant increase was observed in endurance group. PAP only increased significantly in the strength group after exercise and was the only index that was in the abnormal range. In the other measured indices, there was no significant difference between endurance or strength groups before and after 10 weeks of exercise training.

The findings of the present study showed that both types of strength or endurance exercise have an impact on the functional status of the military heart, however, the strength exercise is more effective.