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Acute effect of static exercise on the cardiovascular system: assessment by cardiovascular magnetic resonance

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Abstract

Purpose

The acute effect of static exercise on the global dynamics of the cardiovascular system is poorly understood. The use of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) may be useful for evaluating this effect.

Methods

A total of 12 healthy individuals underwent CMR imaging at rest and while performing a maximal sustained static exercise (weight elevation with both legs). We analyzed the effects on left and right ventricular function, ascending aorta dynamics, and venous capacitance using standard cine and phase-contrast sequences.

Results

We observed excellent reproducibility in the measurements of the images obtained at rest as well as during static exercise. During exercise, we observed reduced left (−35 ± 8 %, p < 0.001) and right (−44 ± 9 %, p < 0.001) ventricle end-diastolic volumes, reduced left (−35 ± 16 %, p < 0.001) and right (−43 ± 8 %, p < 0.001) ventricle end-systolic volumes (both with a significantly greater reduction in the right ventricle), a reduced superior vena cava cross-sectional area (−20 ± 17 %, p = 0.003), and increased left ventricle wall thickness. We estimated that there was an increase in left ventricle contractility. There were no significant changes in the left and right ventricular ejection fractions. During exercise, we noted a tendency toward decreased aortic distensibility and a reduction of ascending aorta systolic expansion.

Conclusions

In healthy individuals, an acute maximal static exercise produced a reduction in the left ventricle, right ventricle, and superior vena cava volumes as well as signs of increased aortic stiffness without increasing left ventricular systolic wall stress. CMR is feasible and useful in evaluating the hemodynamic effects of static exercise.

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Abbreviations

CMR:

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance

LV:

Left ventricle

RV:

Right ventricle

SE:

Static exercise

SVC:

Superior vena cava

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Maite Martín and Monique Mendoza for their invaluable technical support. This study was supported, in part, by a grant from the Consejo Superior de Deportes, Government of Spain.

Conflict of interest

The authors do not have conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grup de Recerca Cardiovascular, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. del Dr. Josep Laporte 2, 43204, Reus, Spain

    Josep M. Alegret & Raúl Beltrán-Debón

  2. St. Vincent’s Hospital Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Australia

    Andre La Gerche

  3. Unitat de Medicina de l’Esport, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, Reus, Spain

    Luis Franco-Bonafonte & Francisco Rubio-Pérez

  4. Servei de Radiologia, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, Reus, Spain

    Nahum Calvo & Manuel Montero

Authors
  1. Josep M. Alegret
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  2. Raúl Beltrán-Debón
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  3. Andre La Gerche
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  4. Luis Franco-Bonafonte
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  5. Francisco Rubio-Pérez
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  6. Nahum Calvo
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  7. Manuel Montero
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Josep M. Alegret.

Additional information

Communicated by Keith Phillip George.

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Alegret, J.M., Beltrán-Debón, R., La Gerche, A. et al. Acute effect of static exercise on the cardiovascular system: assessment by cardiovascular magnetic resonance. Eur J Appl Physiol 115, 1195–1203 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3101-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3101-4

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