The athlete's heart

Abstract

There are numerous cardiovascular adaptations to exercise. The notion that repetitive exercise affects the heart dates back to the initial descriptions of cardiac enlargement in trained athletes in the 1890s. It is now well-established that prolonged exposure to vigorous physical exercise leads to numerous changes in cardiac structure and function. The majority of these changes represent adaptations that facilitate preserved or enhanced cardiovascular function during the hemodynamic stress of exercise. This chapter will provide an overview of the adaptive cardiac physiology associated with exercise training.