Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 20, 2026
Experimental and Imaging Techniques for Examining Fibrin Clot Structures in Normal and Diseased States
Published on: April 1, 2015
Effects of exercise intensity on clot microstructure and mechanical properties in healthy individuals
N A Davies1, O Llwyd1, J V Brugniaux2
1College of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, UK; NISCHR Haemostasis Biomedical Research Unit, NISCHR Haeomstasis Biomedical Research Unit, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, UK.
Background:
Exercise is well established to lead to exercise-induced hypercoagulability, as demonstrated by kinetic coagulation markers. It remains unclear as to whether exercise-induces changes lead in clot development and increased polymerisation. Fractal dimension (df) has been shown to act as a marker of clot microstructure and mechanical properties, and may provide a more meaningful method of determining the relationship between exercise-induced hypercoagulability and potential clot development.
Methods:
df was measured in 24 healthy individuals prior to, after 5min of submaximal exercise, following maximal exercise, 45min of passive recovery and following 60min of recovery. Results were compared with conventional markers of coagulation, fibrinolysis and SEM images.
Results:
Significantly increased df was observed following exercise, returning to resting values following 60min of recovery. The relationship between df and mature clot microstructure was confirmed by SEM: higher df was associated with dense clots formed of smaller fibrin fibres immediately following exercise compared to at rest. Conventional markers of coagulation confirmed findings of previous studies.
Conclusion:
This study demonstrates that df is a sensitive technique which quantifies the structure and properties of blood clots following exercise. In healthy individuals, the haemostatic balance between coagulation and fibrinolysis is maintained in equilibrium following exercise. In individuals with underlying vascular damage who participate in exercise, this equilibrium may be displaced and lead to enhanced clot formation and a prothrombotic state. df may therefore have the potential to not only quantify hypercoagulability, but may also be useful in screening these individuals.
More Related Videos
07:40Impact of High-intensity Interval Exercise and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Exercise on the Cardiac Troponin T Level at an Early Stage of Training
Published on: October 10, 2019
08:03Treatment of Ligament Constructs with Exercise-conditioned Serum: A Translational Tissue Engineering Model
Published on: June 11, 2017
Related Concept Videos
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
01:16Clot Retraction and Fibrinolysis
01:30Peripheral Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:20Extrinsic and Intrinsic Pathways of Hemostasis
The Extrinsic Pathway
The extrinsic pathway of coagulation is typically initiated by tissue damage that exposes blood to tissue factor (TF), a protein released by the damaged tissue cells outside the blood vessels—this interaction with TF triggers biochemical reactions involving specific clotting factors. The key player here is Factor VII, which...
01:30Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins