TY  - JOUR
AU  - Fallahi, Ali Asghar
AU  - Shekarforoush, Shahnaz
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/08/05
TI  - Exercise Training and Cardioprotection in Cardiovascular Disease: A Review of Mechanisms
JO  - OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine
SP  - 034
VL  - 10
IS  - 03
AB  - Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, prompting extensive research into effective methods for treatment and prevention. Among these, exercise training and physical activity are widely recognized as the safest and most effective strategies for improving health. Specifically, exercise training has been explored for its role in cardioprotection, particularly in reducing damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and myocardial infarction (MI). Both high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) have been investigated for their potential to induce cardioprotection. Aerobic exercise, in particular, is known to minimize I/R injury through multiple mechanisms, including exercise preconditioning. This review aims to examine the underlying mechanisms by which exercise training confers cardioprotective effects after MI. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using Google Scholar and PubMed with the keywords: exercise training, cardioprotection, preconditioning, cardiovascular disease, and myocardial infarction. Over 50 articles were initially identified, and 37 were selected for detailed analysis. The findings reveal several mechanisms by which exercise training promotes cardioprotection, including the reduction of cardiovascular risk factors, attenuation of oxidative stress, modulation of inflammation, enhancement of myocardial cell proliferation, and regulation of microRNAs. Among these, the most widely recognized mechanism is exercise-induced preconditioning, which improves the heart’s resilience to I/R injury through activation of protective pathways. In conclusion, this review highlights that exercise training, particularly aerobic exercise, can significantly enhance cardiac resistance to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Through preconditioning, exercise fortifies the heart, reduces ischemic damage, and contributes to better cardiovascular outcomes. Future research should continue to investigate these mechanisms to optimize exercise-based interventions for individuals at risk of cardiovascular events.
SN  - 2573-4393
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.icm.2503034
DO  - 10.21926/obm.icm.2503034
ID  - Fallahi2025
ER  -