Exercise and cardiovascular risk reduction: Time to update the rationale for exercise?

Daniel J. Green, Gerry O'Driscoll, Michael J. Joyner, Nigel T. Cable

Research output: Contribution to journalShort surveypeer-review

176 Scopus citations

Abstract

Exercise training reduces cardiovascular events. The effects of exercise on traditional risk factors do not fully account for the magnitude of risk reduction. Exercise exerts direct effects on the vasculature via the impact of repetitive increases in shear stress on the endothelium, which transduce functional and structural adaptations that decrease atherosclerotic risk. Direct effects of exercise on the vasculature therefore provide a plausible contribution to the reduction in cardiac events associated with exercise training. Since different forms of exercise are associated with different patterns of shear stress and arterial adaptation, future studies should focus on the direct impacts of exercise on vasculature function and structure rather than on surrogate measures of vascular health.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)766-768
Number of pages3
JournalJournal of applied physiology
Volume105
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Physiology (medical)

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