Submitted on February 6, 2008
Accepted on November 5, 2008
Left Ventricular Torsion and Recoil: Implications for Exercise Performance and Cardiovascular Disease
Ben T.A. Esch1* and Darren E. R. Warburton1
1 Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: besch{at}interchange.ubc.ca.
In recent years, advancements in echocardiography assessment techniques have allowed for the quantification of left ventricular (LV) rotation. This information has provided new insight into LV function in health and disease. In this review we discuss the importance of assessing LV circumferential rotation for the importance of understanding cardiac function in a wide range of populations. We provide a synopsis of LV rotational mechanics in the context of the various techniques currently available to assess LV rotation. We also highlight the factors that alter LV function at rest and during exercise conditions. Finally we discuss the influences of age, gender and cardiac pathology on LV rotation. Collectively, this review highlights the importance of understanding LV rotation and its measurement in both health and disease.
