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Does the Human Heart Fatigue Subsequent to Prolonged Exercise?

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Abstract

A reduction in left ventricular systolic and diastolic function subsequent to prolonged exercise in healthy humans, often called exercise-induced cardiac fatigue (EICF), has recently been reported in the literature. However, our current understanding of the exact nature and magnitude of EICF is limited. To date, there is no consensus as to the clinical relevance of such findings and whether such alterations in function are likely to impact upon performance. Much of the existing literature has employed field-based competitions. Whilst ecologically valid, this approach has made it difficult to control many factors such as the duration and intensity of effort, fitness and training status of subjects and environmental conditions. The impact of such variables on EICF has not been fully evaluated and is worthy of further research. To date, most EICF studies have been descriptive, with limited success in elucidating mechanisms. To this end, the assessment of humoral markers of cardiac myocyte or membrane disruption has produced contradictory findings partially due to controversy over the validity of specific assays. It is, therefore, important that future research utilises reliable and valid biochemical techniques to address these aetiological factors as well as develop work on other potential contributors to EICF such as elevated free fatty acid concentrations, free radicals and β-adrenoceptor down-regulation. In summary, whilst some descriptive evidence of EICF is available, there are large gaps in our knowledge of what specific factors related to exercise might facilitate functional changes. These topics present interesting but complex challenges to future research in this field.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Paul Collinson, David Gaze, Sanjay Sharma, and William McKenna for supporting their programme of research. The authors have received funding support from Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Wolverhampton and Cardiac Risk in the Young. The authors know of no conflicts of interest arising from the content of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Alsager, Cheshire, England

    Ellen Dawson

  2. Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 2ET, England

    Keith George

  3. British Olympic Medical Centre, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, Middlesex, England

    Rob Shave & Greg Whyte

  4. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University Medical School, Aberdeen University, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, Scotland

    Derek Ball

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  1. Ellen Dawson
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  2. Keith George
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Correspondence to Keith George.

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Dawson, E., George, K., Shave, R. et al. Does the Human Heart Fatigue Subsequent to Prolonged Exercise?. Sports Med 33, 365–380 (2003). https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200333050-00003

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