Statement on exercise. A position statement for health professionals by the Committee on Exercise and Cardiac Rehabilitation of the Council on Clinical Cardiology, American Heart Association.

R egular, dynamic physical activity can increase cardiovascular functional capacity, aid efforts to reduce risk factors for coronary artery disease, and thus play a favorable role in both primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.This statement on exercise describes the known benefits of regular exercise, makes recommen- dations for implementation of exercise programs, and suggests areas where additional research might enhance understanding of the effects of exercise on the cardiovascular system.Exercise training can increase cardiovascular functional capacity and decrease myocardial oxygen demand for any level of physical activity in normal persons as well as most patients with cardiovascular disease.Regular physical activity is required to maintain training effects.The potential risk of vigorous physical activity can be reduced by previous medical evaluation, supervision when appropri- ate, and education.Exercise can help efforts to control blood lipid abnormalities, diabetes, and obesity; in addition, it may favorably affect cigarette smoking, hypertension, and emotional stress.The evidence suggests that regular, moderate, or vigorous occupational or leisure- time physical activity may protect against overt cor- onary heart disease.Exercise may also improve the likelihood of survival of heart attack and reduce its recurrence in some individuals. Benefits PhysiologicalBoth normal persons and patients with cardiovascular disease usually show an improvement in exer- cise tolerance with physical training.This improve- ment is a result of increased ability to use oxygen to Approved by the SAC/Steering Review Committee of the American Heart Association on June 9, 1989.