Editor's Choice Main Category: Sports Medicine / Fitness Article Date: 08 Jun 2012 - 11:00 PDT

Current ratings for: 'Too Much Exercise Not As Beneficial As Moderate Training'

4 (1 votes)

The study, published in the June issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, found that training for, and competing in marathons, very long distance bicycle rides, and iron man distance triathlons, may result in structural changes to the heart and large arteries, leading to myocardial injury.

Micah True a 58 year-old legendary ultra-marathoner, would run as far as 100 miles in a day. However, on March 27, 2012, True died suddenly while on a routine 12-mile training run. Autopsy results showed that True's heart was enlarged and scarred and that he died of a lethal arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm).

The researchers speculate that the pathologic changes in True's heart may have manifestations of ""Phidippides cardiomyopathy," a condition caused by chronic excessive endurance exercise."

Jame H. O'Keefe, M.D., of Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, MO. explained:

However, as with any pharmacologic agent, a safe upper dose limit potentially exists, beyond which the adverse effects of physical exercise, such as musculoskeletal trauma and cardiovascular stress, may outweigh its benefits."

According to Dr. O'Keefe and his team, extreme endurance training can result in transient structural cardiovascular changes, as well as elevations of cardiac biomarkers, all of which return to normal within one week.

However, some people may develop patchy myocardial fibrosis, particularly in the atria, interventricular septum, and right ventricle, and an increased susceptibility to atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, as a result of months and years of repetitive injury.

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Too Much Exercise Not As Beneficial As Moderate Training