Defining exercise synchrony in fit young adults: a tissue Doppler study.
OBJECTIVE
Exercise-induced changes in the synchrony of left ventricular contraction may be an important therapeutic target in heart failure. There are limited data to support the feasibility of exercise assessments. In addition, the effect of exercise on synchrony in healthy individuals is undetermined.


METHODS
Eleven healthy young men underwent tissue Doppler assessments before and immediately after maximal cardiopulmonary exercise. Left ventricular synchrony was assessed using pulsed wave tissue Doppler of the lateral, septal, inferior, and anterior walls. The maximal dispersion times between the walls for onset and peak systolic velocities were used as synchrony indices.


RESULTS
The proportion of the cardiac cycle taken between Q wave and time to onset or peak systolic motion was constant at rest and peak exercise. There was no significant exercise-induced change seen in either interventricular or intraventricular synchrony.


CONCLUSIONS
Exercise synchrony assessment is technically feasible. Synchronization of cardiac contraction is maintained after maximal exercise in healthy individuals.
Silberbauer
John
J
Department of Cardiology, Eastbourne District General Hospital, Eastbourne, United Kingdom. johnsilberbauer@lycos.com
Veasey
Rick A
RA
Mullan
Paul
P
Brickley
Gary
G
Beale
Louisa
L
Dholakia
Hem H
HH
Carr-White
Gerald
G
Sulke
Neil
N
Lloyd
Guy W
GW
D000328:Adult; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology; D016276:Ventricular Function; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*