Cardiovascular responses to static exercise in distance runners and weight lifters

Sixty individuals including 17 competitive weight lifters (CWL), 12 competitive long-distance runners (LDR), 7 amateur (noncompetitive) weight lifters (AWL), 14 heavy controls (HC), and 10 light controls (LC) were studied at supine rest and during static exercise at 40% of maximal voluntary contraction. Blood pressures were similar in all groups at rest (R) and exercise (EX), but the heart rate (HR) and calculated double product (DP) of the LDR were lower at rest (HR: 53 ± 2.9 beats/min, DP: 6,346 ± 402) and at fatigue (HR: 78 ± 5.4 beats/min, DP: 12,739 ± 1,011) compared to the control group (R-HR: 69 ± 2.2 beats/min, DP: 8,553 ± 372; EX-HR: 97 ± 3.5 beats/min, DP: 16,345 ± 836). The LDR demonstrtated higher end-diastolic volume index (EDVI) and higher end-systolic volume index (ESVI) at rest (EDVI: 84 ± 3.7, ESVI: 31 ± 2.7 ml/m²) and at the time of fatigue (EDVI: 90 ± 5, ESVI: 37 ± 2.7 ml/m²) compared to the LC group (R-EDVI: 61 ± 4.4, ESVI: 22 ± 2.2; EX-EDVI: 75 ± 3.4, ESVI: 27 ± 3.2 ml/m²). The CWL, AWL, and control groups had similar HR, DP, and cardiac volumes at rest and during exercise. These data suggest that competitive endurance (dynamic exercise) training alters the cardiovascular response to static exercise. On the other hand, weight lifting (static exercise) training does not alter the cardiovascular response to static exercise.