Exercise, Physical Conditioning, Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolysis

Summary Coagulation and fibrinolysis were evaluated in 29 healthy young male adults before, immediately after and one hour after strenuous exercise on a treadmill. Seven subjects were studied after moderate, prolonged exercise. Fourteen volunteers were tested before and after successful physical conditioning. Measurements included: pulse rate, glass and silicone whole blood clotting times, one-stage prothrombin time, Stypven time, two-stage prothrombin time, prothrombin consumption, partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, fibrinogen, eugiobulin lysis time, antifibrinolysin, hematocrit, and platelet count. Immediately after exercise, a marked increase in fibrinolytic activity and an acceleration of most clotting assays were observed. After physical conditioning there was a decrease in the level of fibrinolytic activity at rest and after exercise, but the reactivity of the fibrinolytic system, i.e., the percent increase in fibrinolytic activity in response to exercise, was unaltered. Following physical conditioning, the clotting times of certain assays were less accelerated.