Exercise can cause structural changes in the heart and these changes vary depending on the type of training an athlete is engaged in.
The new research in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that endurance athletes showed an increase in the size of both their left and right ventricles after ninety days of team training.
Scientists say the findings suggests that athletic training itself is largely responsible for the strength of an athlete's heart.
The results could also point the way to making tailored recommendations for rehabilitation and recreational exercise for people.
