The heart of the futsal athletes: a comparison of heart structure among under-18, under-20 and adult elite players
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction This study examined cardiac adaptations in futsal athletes to determine how sport-specific training influences cardiac morphology and function across different competitive levels. Methods Male athletes from under-18, under-20, and adult categories underwent electrocardiogram, transthoracic echocardiogram, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Measured parameters included VO₂max, ventricular and atrial dimensions, wall thickness, and cardiac mass index. Group differences were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc test ( p < 0.05). Results Under-20 athletes showed significantly higher VO₂max compared to adults (mean difference: +4.87 mL·kg −1 ·min −1 ; p = 0.014). Adult players exhibited greater interventricular septal (+0.68 mm; p = 0.048) and inferolateral left ventricular wall thickness (+0.75 mm; p = 0.016), alongside higher left atrial volume (+27.4 mL vs. U18; p < 0.001) and indexed left atrial volume (+14.6 mL/m² vs. U18; p < 0.001). Conversely, the right ventricular end-diastolic diameter was larger in under-18 athletes compared to under-20 (+10.9 mm; p < 0.001) and adult players (+14.3 mm; p < 0.001). Ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, and ventricular mass index remained consistent among groups, confirming preserved systolic function across all athletes. Conclusion Progressive futsal training promotes selective cardiac remodeling characterized by increased wall thickness and chamber dilation in adult athletes without compromising function. These adaptations reflect physiological remodeling associated with chronic high-intensity intermittent training, emphasizing the need for longitudinal monitoring to distinguish normal adaptation from early pathological changes.
Authors: Luís Felipe Tubagi Polito, Yago de Moura Carneiro, Danilo de Figueiredo Biaggioni, Thomas Brolin Vieira Nascimento, Davi Ribeiro do Prado, Marcelo Villas Boas Junior
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7114891479