title: Endurance training minimizes age-related changes of left ventricular twist-untwist mechanics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to test the effect of endurance training on the age-related changes of left ventricular (LV) twist-untwist mechanics. Aging has been shown to induce a decline of diastolic function and more recently an impairment of twist-untwist mechanics, which constitutes an important factor for early diastolic suction and filling. On the other hand, endurance training has been shown to improve cardiac function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Speckle-tracking echocardiography was performed in 106 endurance-trained male athletes and 75 controls (age range 18-70 years), divided into three groups according to age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the younger to older age groups, progressive increases in LV apical rotation and twist angle and a decrease in LV untwisting rate during isovolumic relaxation time were observed. Athletes had lower systolic twist angles (P < .01) but higher untwist/twist ratios and LV untwisting rate during isovolumic relaxation time compared with controls, with the largest difference between senior groups (51 ± 24% vs 42 ± 22% in the young and 42 ± 29% vs 24 ± 25% in seniors, P < .001, respectively). The normal timing of untwisting rate occurring before radial displacement was preserved in athletes with increasing age, whereas it was blunted in controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endurance training does not prevent but minimizes changes in LV twist-untwist mechanics from young subjects to seniors. Athletes showed smaller increases of twist angle with age and smaller declines of LV untwisting rate during isovolumic relaxation time and untwist/twist ratio compared with controls. This training-improved preservation of LV twist-untwist mechanics is likely to play a key role for systolic-diastolic coupling and diastolic filling, particularly during exercise.
authors.affiliation: Avignon University, LAPEC EA4278, Avignon, France.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maufrais
authors.affiliation: EA 2992 - Dysfonctions des Interfaces Vasculaires, Faculté de Médecine, Université, Montpellier 1, Nîmes, France.
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.affiliation: Avignon University, LAPEC EA4278, Avignon, France.
authors.forename: Grégory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Doucende
authors.affiliation: Avignon University, LAPEC EA4278, Avignon, France.
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vitiello
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physiologie de l'Exercice, Université de Savoie, Chambéry, France.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rupp
authors.affiliation: EA 2992 - Dysfonctions des Interfaces Vasculaires, Faculté de Médecine, Université, Montpellier 1, Nîmes, France.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dauzat
authors.affiliation: Avignon University, LAPEC EA4278, Avignon, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Obert
authors.affiliation: Avignon University, LAPEC EA4278, Avignon, France. Electronic address: stephane.nottin@univ-avignon.fr.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nottin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000502:physiology; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000379:methods*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012399:Rotation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D033081:Shear Strength / Q000502:physiology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Aging; Diastolic function; Endurance training; Left ventricular twist; Speckle-tracking echocardiography