TITLE:
Evolutionary Aspects of the Resting Electrocardiogram after One Year of Regular Training in Young Senegalese Elite Athletes
AUTHORS:
Mame Saloum Coly, Marie Fall, Mor Diaw, Abdou Khadir Sow, Salimata Diagne Houndjo, Maimouna Toure, Awa Ba, Aïssatou Seck, Abdoulaye Ba, Abdoulaye Samb, Fatou Bintou Sar, Arame Mbengue
KEYWORDS:
ECG, Elite Athlete, Athlete’s Heart, African
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Molecular and Integrative Physiology,
Vol.16 No.2,
August
5,
2026
ABSTRACT: Introduction: ECG changes are observed depending on the nature and duration of the athlete’s physical training. The evolution of these ECG modifications remains little known. Thus, our work aimed to examine the evolution of resting ECG parameters in elite athletes after a year of regular training. Material and methods: A prospective longitudinal (paired) study was carried out during the period from October 20, 2022, to November 20, 2023. The study population consisted of young basketball players, all male, who had 10 hours of weekly training for at least one year. The participants were examined at the functional exploration department of the Thies regional hospital, where they benefited from a clinical examination followed by the performance of an ECG recording during October 2022 and 2023. Results: A total of 16 elite basketball players with a weekly training volume of 15 hours were recruited, with an average age of 17.4 years. The study population had an average BMI of 19.6 kg/m2. Comparative analysis of cardiovascular data revealed a significant decrease in heart rate (p = 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (p = 0.0002) between 2022 and 2023. A significant increase in the frequency of sinus bradycardia was observed in athletes, with percentages of 69% in 2022 versus 75% in 2023 (p = 0.005). The same is true for the frequencies of left atrial enlargement and biventricular hypertrophy, the percentages of which increased, respectively, from 2022 to 2023, from 6.25% to 44% and from 13% to 38% (p = 0.04 and p Conclusion: Endurance training leads to physiological cardiovascular adaptations. These electrical changes are correlated with both training and the length of time spent exercising and are known to be reversible upon cessation of physical training.