Exercise training in pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure: Insights from pre-clinical studies

Abstract

Exercise training (ExT) is widely used for the prevention and treatment of several chronic cardiovascular diseases. However, only recently it started to be recognized as safe and beneficial in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Despite the consistency of its favorable effects on exercise tolerance and quality of life, the mechanisms underlying these meaningful clinical improvements remain unclear. Current studies emphasize the exercise-induced changes on skeletal muscle but the impact of ExT at the level of the pulmonary circulation and right ventricle should not be overlooked. In this chapter, we summarize the main findings from pre-clinical studies analyzing the impact of exercise in pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure.