Exercise Interventions in Cardiac Health
Summary
Exercise interventions constitute a cornerstone in the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease, encompassing a spectrum of modalities from moderate-intensity continuous aerobic activity to high-intensity interval training and targeted resistance protocols. Regular aerobic exercise enhances endothelial function, promotes favourable remodelling of the myocardium and vasculature, and improves autonomic balance through augmentation of parasympathetic tone. Resistance training counters skeletal muscle atrophy that often accompanies heart failure and supports metabolic homeostasis via modulation of insulin-like growth factor and mTOR-mediated pathways. High-intensity interval training offers time-efficient gains in cardiorespiratory fitness and may elicit superior improvements in peak oxygen uptake compared with traditional endurance programmes. Collectively, these interventions act at cellular, tissue and systemic levels to attenuate pathological remodelling, optimise calcium handling in cardiomyocytes and reduce oxidative stress. Their integration into clinical practice guidelines reflects robust evidence for reductions in morbidity and mortality, enhancement of quality of life and cost-effectiveness across diverse patient populations globally.
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Exercise Interventions in Cardiac Health publication trend
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Technical terms
Ejection fraction: The percentage of blood ejected from the left ventricle with each heartbeat, a key index of pump performance.
Echocardiogram: An ultrasound-based imaging technique that visualises cardiac structures and measures functional parameters non-invasively.
Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS): A deformation metric reflecting longitudinal shortening of the ventricle, sensitive to early myocardial dysfunction.
SERCA2a (sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase): An ATP-dependent pump that regulates cytosolic calcium reuptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum, crucial for myocardial relaxation and contractility.
Aortic stenosis: A pathological narrowing of the aortic valve orifice, imposing chronic pressure overload on the left ventricle and predisposing to heart failure.
References
- Effects of Resistance Exercise on Slow-Twitch Soleus Muscle of Infarcted Rats. Antioxidants (2023).
- Aerobic Exercise Training Improves Calcium Handling and Cardiac Function in Rats with Heart Failure Resulting from Aortic Stenosis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- The effect of exercise on left ventricular global longitudinal strain. European Journal of Applied Physiology (2022).
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