['This study sought to determine whether strain rate imaging could distinguish between individuals with hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and those with strength-training athletic LVH.', 'In all, 108 participants (30 hypertensive LVH, 30 strength-training LVH, 48 control) were enrolled. In addition to a baseline echocardiogram, strain, peak systolic strain rate (SR(S)), peak early diastolic strain rate (SR(E)), and peak late diastolic strain rate values were compared in the apical 4-chamber view.', 'Athletes had no significant differences in strain, SR(S), SR(E), or peak late diastolic strain rate compared with control subjects (P = .11, .99, .85, and .09, respectively). Individuals with hypertensive LVH had significantly decreased strain, SR(S), and SR(E) (-16.8 +/- 3.2%, -0.99 +/- 0.15 s(-1), and 1.54 +/- 0.40 s(-1), respectively) compared with control subjects (-21.7 +/- 3.5%, -1.31 +/- 0.27 s(-1), and 2.35 +/- 0.57 s(-1), respectively; all P < .0001).'] Does strain rate imaging differentiate hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy from physiologic cardiac hypertrophy ( athlete 's heart )?