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Published on: March 15, 2019
Exercise and vascular adaptation in asymptomatic humans
Daniel J Green1, Angela Spence, John R Halliwill
1Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Henry Cotton Campus, 15-21 Webster Street, Liverpool, UK. d.j.green@ljmu.ac.uk
Experimental Physiology
|October 26, 2010
Summary
Exercise training improves blood vessel function in healthy individuals, particularly through nitric oxide pathways. However, increased resting vasoconstrictor tone may offset some benefits, highlighting complex vascular adaptations.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Exercise Science
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Exercise training benefits are well-documented in individuals with cardiovascular disease.
- Evidence in apparently healthy subjects is less consistent.
- Understanding exercise impacts on vasculature in asymptomatic individuals is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the effects of exercise training on conduit and resistance vessel function and structure in asymptomatic subjects.
- To explore mechanisms underlying these vascular adaptations.
- To discuss the influence of training intensity, volume, and modality.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on exercise training and vascular function in healthy individuals.
- Focus on in vivo studies of arterial function, endothelial nitric oxide pathways, and autonomic control.
- Examination of studies on arterial compliance and venous function.
Main Results:
- Exercise training generally improves endothelial nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation.
- Magnitude of benefit may depend on training intensity, volume, and inflammatory/oxidative balance.
- Training can increase basal vasoconstrictor tone, potentially counterbalancing vasodilation.
- Arterial and venous compliance may increase, especially in older adults.
- Shear stress is a key signaling mechanism for vascular adaptation.
Conclusions:
- Exercise training induces complex vascular adaptations in asymptomatic individuals.
- Improvements in vasodilator function may be counteracted by increased resting vasoconstrictor tone.
- Shear stress and hemodynamic changes during exercise are critical.
- Different exercise modalities yield distinct vascular responses.
- Further research with advanced technology is needed to fully characterize these effects.
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Definition
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Exercise stress testing, commonly known as a treadmill test, is a noninvasive procedure used to evaluate cardiovascular function and diagnose heart conditions.
Definition
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Purposes