Soldiers’ Heart: A Prospective Study of Cardiac Remodeling in Soldiers Undergoing Progressive Intensity Exercise Training

Purpose Most studies reporting cardiac changes with exercise have been cross sectional. The few available longitudinal studies have lacked standardization for environmental confounders. We prospectively assessed the relationship between increasing exercise intensity and cardiac remodeling in a highly standardized cohort of healthy young army soldiers. Methods Sixty-three male army recruits (22 ± 3 yr) underwent a 12-wk moderate-intensity mixed strength and endurance exercise program, followed by a further 15-wk high-intensity exercise program, with highly controlled exercise, diet, and sleep patterns. Fitness (multistage fitness test), anthropometry, and 2D echocardiography were assessed. Results Moderate-intensity exercise was associated with increased fitness and decreased body fat % (both P
Source: Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise - Category: Sports Medicine Tags: CLINICAL SCIENCES Source Type: research