Left ventricular torsion and recoil: implications for exercise performance and cardiovascular disease

Esch BT, Warburton DE. Left ventricular torsion and recoil: implications for exercise performance and cardiovascular disease. J Appl Physiol 106: 362-369, 2009. First published November 6, 2008; doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00144.2008.-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 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. Finally, we discuss the influences of age, sex, and cardiac pathology on LV rotation. Collectively, this review highlights the importance of understanding LV rotation and its measurement in both health and disease.