故事
保持健康和追求表现是两种训练
为健康运动,规律地动就拿到大半好处;想变强得不断加码,伤多出在加量快过肌腱和骨头的适应。两件事可以兼顾。
最后更新:
先读这一段 为健康运动和为变强训练,是两个目标。
科普内容,不替代医师诊断或处方;有症状或在服药请咨询医师。
故事路径
第 1 章
为健康练要的是常动
Health asks for regular movement
为健康运动和为变强训练,是两个目标。 健康要的是一组身体适应:肌肉更会收血糖,血管内壁更健康,血压更稳,老了肌肉少流失。这些适应大多不需要练到很狠。
一个原因是,不少好处来自每一次运动本身,而且只维持一阵。肌肉一收缩,就把运送葡萄糖的通道 挪到细胞表面,不靠胰岛素也能收糖;一次耐力运动后,血压最长约 22 小时偏低;血流一遍遍冲刷血管内壁,血管的功能和管壁也跟着改变。所以对健康来说,规律地动比偶尔练到极限更要紧。
WHO 2020 指南的说法是:动一点比不动好,动得多更好,但越往上,多出来的好处越少,只是说不准从哪里开始变少。
运动中胸痛、胸闷或晕倒,先停下,立即拨打急救电话,详见健康和进步怎么兼顾一章。
一个原因是,不少好处来自每一次运动本身,而且只维持一阵。肌肉一收缩,就把运送葡萄糖的通道 挪到细胞表面,不靠胰岛素也能收糖;一次耐力运动后,血压最长约 22 小时偏低;血流一遍遍冲刷血管内壁,血管的功能和管壁也跟着改变。所以对健康来说,规律地动比偶尔练到极限更要紧。
WHO 2020 指南的说法是:动一点比不动好,动得多更好,但越往上,多出来的好处越少,只是说不准从哪里开始变少。
运动中胸痛、胸闷或晕倒,先停下,立即拨打急救电话,详见健康和进步怎么兼顾一章。
数字 · 剂量曲线为什么前陡后平
人群数据只能当背景,但它和上面那条机制说的是同一件事。Arem 2015 汇总了 6 项前瞻队列、661,137 名成年人,中位随访 14.2 年,比较自报的业余运动量和死亡风险。和完全不运动的人相比:运动量不到推荐下限的人,死亡风险低 20%;达到下限的 1 到 2 倍,低 31%;2 到 3 倍,低 37%;到 3 到 5 倍时曲线走平,低 39%。从下限再往上加到几倍,只多换来几个百分点。练到下限 10 倍以上的人,也没看到风险变高。这些是观察到的关联,不能证明是运动量造成的。WHO 2020 指南给成年人的范围是:每周 150–300 分钟中等强度,或 75–150 分钟高强度有氧,或两者相当的组合;另外每周 2 天以上做练到全身主要肌群的力量训练。指南写明,超过 300 分钟中等强度还有额外好处,但这一条是有条件推荐,因为说不准收益从哪里开始变小。至于力量训练,指南没有找到证据说明做得更多、健康收益更大。
所以这条曲线说的是:从不动到常动,收获最大;从常动到大量,收获变小,但没有变成坏处。
arem-2015-leisure-activity-mortality
机制 · 一次运动后身体里变了什么
Thompson 2001 的综述把这件事讲得很直接:一次运动本身,就能暂时降低、升高常被叫作好胆固醇的 、降低血压、改善胰岛素敏感性和血糖调节。作者因此提出,人们归功于长期训练的一部分好处,其实来自最近那几次运动。降血压这一效应门槛很低,在约 40% 最大能力的运动后就能看到;改善血糖似乎要接近 70% 最大能力,但这一点还没被仔细研究过。血压这一头,美国运动医学会(ACSM)2004 年的立场声明写道:有高血压的人,一次耐力运动后或坚持训练后,血压约降 5–7 mmHg;一次运动后的降压最长约 22 小时,基础血压越高降得越多。
长期训练再往上叠一层。肌肉里运送葡萄糖的通道 本身变多,收糖的能力更大。血流反复冲刷动脉内壁,这股摩擦力叫剪切力,动脉的功能、管径和管壁厚度随之改变;Green 2017 的综述认为,这是运动降低心血管风险的直接原因之一。
按机制推,这正是规律比强度更要紧的理由:好处有一部分要靠一次次运动来刷新。这一步是推论,还没有试验直接比较过。
第 2 章
想变强得不断加码
Improving keeps asking for more
想跑得更快、举得更重、比赛赢球,是另一个目标。 身体只对超出它习惯的刺激做适应,而且练什么长什么:长时间耐力训练让肌肉多造线粒体;大重量力量训练让它多造收缩蛋白,力量和肌肉一起长。
麻烦在于,适应完成之后,原来的刺激就不再超出习惯。想继续进步,就得不断加码:加重量、加量、加次数,或者换更专项的练法。美国运动医学会的力量训练立场声明写道,要持续适应,训练必须渐进;它给的训练频率也从新手每周 2–3 天,一路升到老手每周 4–5 天。
和健康对照一下就清楚了:WHO 指南认为每周 2 天以上的力量训练对健康有益,却没有找到证据说明练得更多、健康收益更大;肌肉体积却会随每周组数继续增长。为成绩多练的那部分,不是更多的健康,是另一份投入。 它带来进步,也带来更高的受伤风险,见练太狠为什么会伤身一章。
麻烦在于,适应完成之后,原来的刺激就不再超出习惯。想继续进步,就得不断加码:加重量、加量、加次数,或者换更专项的练法。美国运动医学会的力量训练立场声明写道,要持续适应,训练必须渐进;它给的训练频率也从新手每周 2–3 天,一路升到老手每周 4–5 天。
和健康对照一下就清楚了:WHO 指南认为每周 2 天以上的力量训练对健康有益,却没有找到证据说明练得更多、健康收益更大;肌肉体积却会随每周组数继续增长。为成绩多练的那部分,不是更多的健康,是另一份投入。 它带来进步,也带来更高的受伤风险,见练太狠为什么会伤身一章。
证据 · 力量练多少才算够
同样是力量训练,问健康和问肌肉,答案不一样。问健康:WHO 2020 指南强推荐(中等确定性证据)成年人每周 2 天以上做中等或更高强度、练到全身主要肌群的力量训练,同时写明,没有证据支持更大的力量训练量带来更多健康收益。
问肌肉:Schoenfeld 2017 的 汇总了 15 项研究的 34 个训练组,每周每多做一组,肌肉体积的增长平均多 0.37%;高训练量组和低训练量组相差 3.9%。摘要里没有报告平台或上限,但按每周少于 5 组、5–9 组、10 组以上三档比较时,差别只是趋势。
问力量:美国运动医学会 2009 年的立场声明是给教练的进阶框架。新手用大约能做 8–12 次的重量;有经验的人在能做 1–12 次的重量范围里分期安排,逐步侧重大重量;能比目标多做一两次时,把重量加 2–10%。训练频率从每周 2–3 天升到 4–5 天。
三条放在一起:健康那条线在不多的量上就够到了,成绩那条线却一直要更多。这不是说多练有害,而是说多练买的是另一样东西。
机制 · 为什么练什么长什么
Coffey 和 Hawley 2007 的综述把训练适应拆到了分子层面:肌肉会按刺激改变自己造哪种蛋白、造多少。适应的结果由训练量、强度、频率和那种蛋白的半衰期共同决定,而且很多特征专属于刺激的类型。长时间耐力训练带来线粒体增多、肌纤维向慢肌方向转变、能量物质的利用方式改变;大重量力量训练带来收缩蛋白合成增加、肌肉肥大和最大力量提高。两条路背后的分子信号不一样。这就是专项性:哪种能力被反复挑战,哪种能力才长得最多。想在某件事上变强,就得在那件事上反复给出超出习惯的刺激,渐进超负荷的具体办法见 渐进超负荷。
Hawley 2018 的综述还提到,运动员用来放大耐力适应的办法,前提都是更大的代谢负荷和更大的细胞内环境扰动,在几个月、几年里反复出现。换句话说,水平越高,再进一步的代价越大。两种训练都想要时,它们之间还有一点互相拖累(见 干扰效应)。
hawley-2018-zone2-mito
第 3 章
练太狠为什么会伤身
How hard training leads to injury
练太狠伤身,多半不是心肺被练坏,而是加量快过了最慢的组织。 肌肉和心肺几周就能跟上新的训练量,肌腱、骨头和软骨却慢得多。用核试验留在大气里的碳 14 测成年人的跟腱,发现它的核心几十年几乎不更新,肌肉却一直在换新。一次训练之后,肌腱里胶原的分解也比合成更早到达高峰。
所以危险的不是练得多,而是突然多。国际奥委会(IOC)的共识把训练和比赛负荷的快速变化列为受伤的主要风险因素;常年稳定承受高负荷的运动员,受伤反而可能更少(见 训练常见伤)。
心脏也有相似的规律。一项跟踪两万多名男性医生的研究里,剧烈运动当中和之后 30 分钟内,心源性猝死的明显升高,但每一次运动的绝对风险极低;平时就常做剧烈运动的人,这个风险升得更少。
所以危险的不是练得多,而是突然多。国际奥委会(IOC)的共识把训练和比赛负荷的快速变化列为受伤的主要风险因素;常年稳定承受高负荷的运动员,受伤反而可能更少(见 训练常见伤)。
心脏也有相似的规律。一项跟踪两万多名男性医生的研究里,剧烈运动当中和之后 30 分钟内,心源性猝死的明显升高,但每一次运动的绝对风险极低;平时就常做剧烈运动的人,这个风险升得更少。
机制 · 肌腱和骨头为什么跟不上
差距来自组织本身的更新速度。Heinemeier 2013 用 20 世纪中期核试验留在大气里的碳 14 做标记,测了 28 份成人跟腱核心样本:碳 14 水平对应的是取样前几十年的大气,说明这部分组织几乎不更新;同时测的肌肉样本却在持续更新。肌腱并不是不会适应,只是节奏不同。Magnusson 2010 的综述写道,负荷会让肌腱合成更多胶原,合成在运动后约 24 小时达到高峰,并维持约 3 天;胶原的分解也会升高,而且高峰来得比合成更早。按这条时间线推,刚练完的那段时间,肌腱更像在拆旧,后面才在建新。
Bohm 2015 的 汇总了 27 项至少 8 周的训练研究:肌腱确实会变硬、变结实,主要取决于负荷有多大,而不是哪种收缩方式;训练 12 周以上的研究效应更大一些,但差别没有达到统计显著。骨头也会在受力时加强,受力的信号让造骨细胞更活跃。而且休闲跑者的髋膝关节炎比例,反而比久坐的人低,见运动员关节为什么不容易坏那一章(见 关节)。
所以练了几周就觉得我能练更多了,那是肌肉和心肺给的信号;肌腱和骨头的账要按月算。各种组织的时间表细讲见 训练常见伤。
bohm-2015-tendon-loading-metakohrt-2004-exercise-bonealentorn-geli-2017-jospt-running-oa
证据 · 急慢性负荷比靠得住吗
很多球队和运动软件会算一个急慢性负荷比(ACWR):最近一周的训练量,除以过去几周的平均量。它来自 Gabbett 2016 的一篇综述。作者提出训练与预防受伤的悖论:习惯高负荷的运动员受伤更少;过猛、过快的加量,可能是很大一部分非接触性软组织伤的原因。他把这个比值当作预测受伤的指标。这个比值后来受到直接的批评。Impellizzeri 2020 指出,还没有研究认真估计过它和受伤之间的因果关系,靠调这个比值来降低受伤率仍是猜想;而且比值本身的统计性质不好,会制造假象。他们的结论是:没有证据支持用 ACWR 来管理训练量,或用它来指导降低受伤。
能留下来的是它背后的机制,而不是那个数字:组织承受的是相对于它已经习惯的负荷。一个具体的数字规则也同样不可靠:一项新手跑者的随机试验里,按每周加量不超过 10% 安排的计划,并没有减少受伤(见 训练常见伤)。
buist-2008-graded-training-rct
数字 · 剧烈运动与心脏
Albert 2000 在美国医师健康研究里跟踪了 21,481 名起初没有自报心血管病的男性医生,12 年里确认 122 例猝死。剧烈运动当中和之后 30 分钟内,心源性猝死的是其他时候的 16.9 倍,但绝对风险极低:约每 151 万次剧烈运动出现 1 例。平时常做剧烈运动的人,这个相对风险升得更少。美国运动医学会 2015 年的运动前筛查共识也写道,运动相关的心血管事件常常先有预警症状,而人越常运动、体能越好,运动带来的心血管风险就越低。对大多数人,这些数字指向同一个做法:强度要从自己习惯的水平往上加,而不是从几乎不动直接跳到全力。
另一个常被问到的问题是,长期高水平训练会不会伤心脏。Newman 2021 的 汇总了病例对照和队列研究,发现运动员发生心房颤动(一种心律失常)的几率是非运动员的 2.46 倍;混合项目比耐力项目更高,55 岁以下的运动员更高。这是观察性研究,说明不了是训练量造成的,也说明不了多少训练才算多。它说的是运动员;在普通人群里,Arem 2015 的汇总数据中,练到推荐下限 10 倍以上的人,死亡风险仍比完全不运动的人低( 0.69)。
riebe-2015-acsm-preparticipation-screeningnewman-2021-athlete-atrial-fibrillationarem-2015-leisure-activity-mortality
第 4 章
激烈运动后为什么特别爽
Why hard exercise feels so good
打完一场激烈的球心情特别好,和散步那种舒服不是同一回事。 激烈运动时,交感神经和肾上腺把肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺素这两种儿茶酚胺(身体的应激激素)放进血里,浓度可以升到平时的 1.5 倍到 20 多倍,运动越剧烈、越久,升得越多。于是心跳加快、人很亢奋。
跑者的愉悦感过去常被归功于内啡肽,现在的证据更偏向内源性大麻素:身体自己造的、作用在大麻素受体上的信号分子。一项 63 人的随机试验里,中等强度跑 45 分钟后,人更愉快、更不焦虑,血里的内源性大麻素升高;用药物挡住阿片受体,这些变化照样出现。
散步这类低强度运动,多数人在运动当中就觉得舒服;强度越过一个门槛,运动当中的感受普遍变差。比赛还多了对抗、配合和输赢,这部分对心情的作用没有被单独测过。感觉好不等于对健康更好:内源性大麻素只在中等强度后明显变化,强度很高时反而没有。
跑者的愉悦感过去常被归功于内啡肽,现在的证据更偏向内源性大麻素:身体自己造的、作用在大麻素受体上的信号分子。一项 63 人的随机试验里,中等强度跑 45 分钟后,人更愉快、更不焦虑,血里的内源性大麻素升高;用药物挡住阿片受体,这些变化照样出现。
散步这类低强度运动,多数人在运动当中就觉得舒服;强度越过一个门槛,运动当中的感受普遍变差。比赛还多了对抗、配合和输赢,这部分对心情的作用没有被单独测过。感觉好不等于对健康更好:内源性大麻素只在中等强度后明显变化,强度很高时反而没有。
证据 · 内啡肽还是内源性大麻素
这件事的证据,人和动物要分开看。在人身上:Boecker 2008 给 10 名运动员做 PET 扫描,跑 2 小时后,大脑前额叶和边缘系统里的阿片受体被占得更多,愉悦感越强,被占得越多。这支持内啡肽这一类内源性阿片参与其中。Siebers 2021 做的是一项双盲:63 人分别服用阿片受体拮抗剂纳曲酮或安慰剂,再跑 45 分钟。两组都出现了愉悦感上升、焦虑下降,内源性大麻素照样升高,自述有跑者愉悦感的比例也差不多。所以在人身上,这种愉悦感不依赖阿片信号。
在小鼠身上:Fuss 2015 发现,跑步后的抗焦虑和止痛效应要靠大麻素受体,挡住受体就没了;但愉悦感本身没法在小鼠身上研究。
强度也有关系。Raichlen 2013 让跑者用四种强度跑步,只有中等强度后血里的内源性大麻素明显变化,很低和很高的强度都没有。
合起来要读准边界:人体证据说明内源性大麻素会升高,挡住阿片受体也不影响愉悦感;小鼠里被直接证明的,是跑后的抗焦虑和止痛要靠大麻素受体,愉悦感本身在小鼠身上测不了。所以在人身上,内源性大麻素是最有力的候选,不是定论。
boecker-2008-runners-high-opioid-petfuss-2015-runners-high-cannabinoid-mice
证据 · 团队运动和心情
Chekroud 2018 分析了美国 1,237,194 名成年人的调查数据:运动的人比条件相近、不运动的人,过去一个月里心情差的天数少 1.49 天(少 43.2%)。各种运动都有关联,最大的是流行的团队运动(少 22.3%)、骑车(少 21.6%)和有氧与健身房运动(少 20.1%);每次约 45 分钟、每周 3 到 5 次的关联最强。作者特别写了一句:运动不是越多越好。这是横断面研究:同一时刻问运动和心情,分不清谁先谁后,心情好的人更愿意去打球也说得通。所以它能说明团队运动和心情好常常一起出现,不能说明打球比散步更能改善心情。
Ekkekakis 2011 的综述补上了另一半:强度低于通气阈或乳酸阈时,多数人在运动当中感觉愉快;接近门槛时人与人差别很大;高于门槛时,运动当中的感受普遍变差。让人自己选强度,往往更能接受较高的强度。
chekroud-2018-exercise-mental-health
第 5 章
健康和进步怎么兼顾
Balancing health and progress
健康和进步不冲突,但要分开安排。 健康那一层是地板:WHO 2020 指南给成年人的范围是每周 150–300 分钟中等强度,或 75–150 分钟高强度有氧,另加每周 2 天以上的力量训练,多短的一段都算数。地板之上,才是为进步加的那部分:渐进加码,也要安排轻一些的阶段,让肌腱和骨头跟上(见 恢复科学)。
周末集中运动两天也算数:两项大型观察研究发现,总量相同时,集中在一两天和分散在一周里,与死亡、心血管病风险的关联差不多。
腿酸几天就退、越练越轻,多是正常适应(见 延迟性酸痛 (DOMS));成绩连续几周往下掉、怎么休息都缓不过来,就要想到练过头(见 干扰效应)。
训练中或训练后突发胸痛、胸闷,立即拨打急救电话;一侧小腿突然肿、热、痛,不要等,立即就医,同时胸痛或喘不上气就拨打急救电话;在运动中晕倒,立即拨打急救电话。
周末集中运动两天也算数:两项大型观察研究发现,总量相同时,集中在一两天和分散在一周里,与死亡、心血管病风险的关联差不多。
腿酸几天就退、越练越轻,多是正常适应(见 延迟性酸痛 (DOMS));成绩连续几周往下掉、怎么休息都缓不过来,就要想到练过头(见 干扰效应)。
训练中或训练后突发胸痛、胸闷,立即拨打急救电话;一侧小腿突然肿、热、痛,不要等,立即就医,同时胸痛或喘不上气就拨打急救电话;在运动中晕倒,立即拨打急救电话。
证据 · 周末集中练够不够
2022 年发表的一项美国研究跟踪了 350,978 名成年人,中位随访 10.4 年,运动量是自报的。和不运动的人相比,周末集中型(每周 1 到 2 次)的全因死亡风险 0.92(95% 0.83–1.02,区间跨过 1),规律运动型(每周 3 次以上)HR 0.85。在运动总量相同的前提下,两种模式的死亡风险相近(HR 1.08,95% CI 0.97–1.20)。Khurshid 2023 用手腕上的加速度计记录了英国生物样本库 89,573 人一周的活动。每周中高强度活动至少 150 分钟、其中一半以上集中在一两天完成的人,和分散完成的人一样,心房颤动、心肌梗死、心力衰竭和卒中的风险都比不活跃的人低,低的幅度相近。
WHO 2020 指南也改了口径:不再要求每段至少 10 分钟,多短的一段都算进总量。
这些都是观察性研究,回答的是总量够不够,没有回答受伤。按机制推,集中有两个代价:每次运动带来的一部分好处只维持一阵,比如一次耐力运动后的降压最长约 22 小时;平时不动、周末猛练,正是负荷突然升高的情形,组织和心脏都还没习惯,见练太狠为什么会伤身一章。所以周末只有这么多时间,照样去练,强度从自己习惯的水平慢慢加;平时能动一点,也算进总量。
实操 · 腿一直酸算不算练过头
比如每周打 4 次球,腿一直酸。先分清是哪一种酸。(DOMS)是换了动作或突然加量后,肌肉过一两天才酸、几天内消退的那种;同样的运动重复几次,酸痛会越来越轻(见 延迟性酸痛 (DOMS))。如果酸痛在两场之间能退下去,表现也没往下掉,多半是身体在适应。
练过头看的是另一组信号。欧洲运动科学学会和美国运动医学会的联合共识把它分成三档:短期练狠、休息后反而更强的功能性超量;恢复拖得更久、之后也没变强的非功能性超量;最重的过度训练综合征,成绩持续下降、怎么休息都缓不过来,常伴情绪低落、睡眠变差、容易生病。持续的疲劳和成绩下滑也可能来自贫血、感染等别的问题,要让医生先排除(见 干扰效应)。
想一直进步又少受伤,常见的做法是:总量和强度跟着自己的恢复走,按周期安排轻一些的阶段;加量一次只动一样,给肌腱和骨头留出按月计的时间;锐痛、定点痛、越练越重的痛,先停下来(见 训练常见伤)。
红旗 · 什么时候必须停下就医
下面这些不是练过头,也不是普通的伤,而是要立即处理的信号。本站不诊断,出现时先停下来。训练中或训练后突发胸痛、胸闷,像被压住或攥紧,可能放射到手臂、脖子或下颌,伴气短、出冷汗:可能是心脏急症,立即拨打急救电话。在运动中晕倒:立即拨打急救电话。平时晕倒过一次,也要找医生查原因。一侧小腿突然肿胀、疼痛、发热,尤其是长途旅行或久坐之后:警惕深静脉血栓,立即就医,不要按摩或拉伸;同时胸痛或喘不上气,立即拨打急救电话。运动中出现明显气短、心慌或快要晕倒:立刻停下,不要硬撑;症状不退,立即就医。
美国运动医学会的运动前筛查共识写道,运动相关的心血管事件常常先有预警症状。所以这些信号一出现,就不要再坚持完成这一组、这一场。
nhs-heart-attack-symptomsriebe-2015-acsm-preparticipation-screening
参考文献 · 24
- Thompson, P. D., Crouse, S. F., Goodpaster, B., Kelley, D., Moyna, N., & Pescatello, L. (2001). The acute versus the chronic response to exercise. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 33(6 Suppl), S438-S445. 'There is strong and consistent evidence that a single exercise session can acutely reduce triglycerides and increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (HDL-C), reduce blood pressure, and improve insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis. Such observations suggest that at least some of the effects on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk factors attributed to exercise training may be the result of recent exercise.' Training increases exercise capacity, permitting larger acute effects. 'The acute effect of exercise on blood pressure is a low threshold phenomenon and has been observed after energy expenditures requiring only 40% maximal capacity. The acute effect of exercise on glucose metabolism appears to require exercise near 70% maximal, but this issue has not been carefully examined.' Conclusion: exercise has definite acute effects on lipids, blood pressure and glucose homeostasis; 'Considerable additional research is required to define the threshold of exercise required to produce these putatively beneficial effects' (abstract, PMID 11427768). 10.1097/00005768-200106001-00012
- Pescatello, L. S., Franklin, B. A., Fagard, R., Farquhar, W. B., Kelley, G. A., & Ray, C. A. (2004). American College of Sports Medicine position stand: Exercise and hypertension. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 36(3), 533-553. Documents post-exercise hypotension persisting ~22 h after a single moderate-intensity session; recommends timing training to coincide with morning BP peak. 10.1249/01.MSS.0000115224.88514.3A
- Richter, E. A., & Hargreaves, M. (2013). Exercise, GLUT4, and skeletal muscle glucose uptake. Physiological Reviews, 93(3), 993-1017. Muscle contraction activates AMPK which translocates GLUT4 to the sarcolemma independently of insulin; this effect persists for hours post-exercise. 10.1152/physrev.00038.2012
- Green, D. J., Hopman, M. T. E., Padilla, J., Laughlin, M. H., & Thijssen, D. H. J. (2017). Vascular adaptation to exercise in humans: role of hemodynamic stimuli. Physiological Reviews, 97(2), 495-528. Reviews the functional and structural arterial adaptations that follow repeated episodic exposure to the hemodynamic forces of exercise: 'Exercise modifies blood flow, luminal shear stress, arterial pressure, and tangential wall stress, all of which can transduce changes in arterial function, diameter, and wall thickness.' Implications include atherosclerotic risk in conduit arteries, blood pressure control in resistance vessels and microvascular health. Conclusion: 'Exercise training studies have demonstrated that direct hemodynamic impacts on the health of the artery wall contribute to the well-established decrease in cardiovascular risk attributed to physical activity' (abstract, PMID 28151424). 10.1152/physrev.00014.2016
- Bull, F. C., Al-Ansari, S. S., Biddle, S., Borodulin, K., Buman, M. P., Cardon, G., et al. (2020). World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 54(24), 1451-1462. 'All adults should undertake 150-300 min of moderate-intensity, or 75-150 min of vigorous-intensity physical activity, or some equivalent combination of moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, per week'; the guidelines recommend regular muscle-strengthening activity for all age groups. Conclusion: 'They reaffirm messages that some physical activity is better than none, that more physical activity is better for optimal health outcomes and provide a new recommendation on reducing sedentary behaviours.' Full text (PMC7719906): adults should also do muscle-strengthening activities at moderate or greater intensity involving all major muscle groups on 2 or more days a week (strong recommendation, moderate-certainty evidence), and 'There was no evidence to support a dose-response association with higher volumes of muscle-strengthening activities.' 'MVPA bouts of any duration now count towards these recommendations, reflecting new evidence to support the value of total physical activity volume, regardless of bout length.' There is moderate-certainty evidence of a curvilinear dose-response for all-cause and CVD mortality and incident cancer and diabetes: 'More physical activity is better, although the relative benefits tend to diminish at higher levels of physical activity. However, it is not possible to specify the physical activity levels where diminishing returns begin.' Hence the recommendation that more than 300 min moderate (or 150 min vigorous) a week has additional health benefits is rated conditional. 10.1136/bjsports-2020-102955
- NHS. (2026). Fainting (page last reviewed 17 August 2026). Fainting is when you pass out for a short time; it is not usually serious, but anyone who has fainted should see a GP to find out what might have caused it. Causes can include standing up too quickly (which could be a sign of low blood pressure), not eating or drinking enough, being too hot, being very upset or in severe pain, heart problems, and taking drugs or drinking too much alcohol. Call 999 if someone is not breathing, cannot be woken up within 1 minute, has not fully recovered or has difficulty with speech or movement, has chest pain or a pounding, fluttering or irregular heartbeat (palpitations), has seriously hurt themselves before or after fainting, is shaking or jerking (a seizure), fainted while exercising, or fainted while lying down; do not drive yourself to A&E. If you feel about to faint: lie down with your legs raised, or if you cannot, sit with your head lowered between your knees; drink some water; cross your legs while standing up or rock up and down on your toes; clench your fists. If you see someone faint: check whether they respond by gently shaking their shoulders and asking loudly; if not, shout for help and tilt back the head and lift the chin; listen for breathing for at least 10 seconds; if they are breathing normally, lay them on their back and raise their legs (on their side if pregnant, especially over 28 weeks); they usually wake up within 30 seconds. www.nhs.uk/conditions/fainting
- Coffey, V. G., & Hawley, J. A. (2007). The molecular bases of training adaptation. Sports Medicine, 37(9), 737-763. 'The functional consequences of these adaptations are determined by training volume, intensity and frequency, and the half-life of the protein. Moreover, many features of the training adaptation are specific to the type of stimulus, such as the mode of exercise.' Prolonged endurance training elicits mitochondrial biogenesis, fast-to-slow fibre-type transformation and changes in substrate metabolism; heavy resistance exercise stimulates synthesis of contractile proteins responsible for hypertrophy and increased maximal force; the genetic and molecular mechanisms of the two are distinct. The authors add that it cannot yet be claimed that this molecular work has influenced the training practices of elite athletes (abstract, PMID 17722947). 10.2165/00007256-200737090-00001
- American College of Sports Medicine. (2009). Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 41(3), 687-708. ACSM position stand: progressive overload through gradual increases in load, volume, or frequency; periodization optimizes long-term adaptation. 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181915670
- Schoenfeld, B. J., Ogborn, D., & Krieger, J. W. (2017). Dose-response relationship between weekly resistance training volume and increases in muscle mass: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Sports Sciences, 35(11), 1073-1082. Meta-regression of 34 treatment groups from 15 studies: each additional weekly set was associated with a 0.37% larger gain in muscle size, and higher- vs lower-volume groups differed by 3.9%; as a three-level variable (< 5, 5-9 and 10+ sets per muscle per week) the effect was only a trend (P = 0.074). The authors conclude a graded dose-response; the abstract reports no plateau or upper limit (abstract, PMID 27433992). 10.1080/02640414.2016.1210197
- Heinemeier, K. M., Schjerling, P., Heinemeier, J., Magnusson, S. P., & Kjaer, M. (2013). Lack of tissue renewal in human adult Achilles tendon is revealed by nuclear bomb 14C. The FASEB Journal, 27(5), 2074–2079. Bomb-pulse 14C in 28 forensic Achilles tendon core samples and 4 muscle samples: the tendon core retained 14C levels matching the atmosphere several decades before sampling, showing very limited tissue turnover, while muscle showed continuous turnover (abstract, PMID 23401563). 10.1096/fj.12-225599
- Magnusson, S. P., Langberg, H., & Kjaer, M. (2010). The pathogenesis of tendinopathy: balancing the response to loading. Nature Reviews Rheumatology, 6(5), 262-268. Mechanical loading upregulates collagen expression and synthesis in tendon: 'This increase in collagen formation peaks around 24 h after exercise and remains elevated for about 3 days. The degradation of collagen proteins also rises after exercise, but seems to peak earlier than the synthesis.' 'Despite the ability of tendons to adapt to loading, repetitive use often results in injuries, such as tendinopathy'; microrupture and material fatigue are suggested injury mechanisms, implying one or more weak links in the structure (abstract, PMID 20308995). 10.1038/nrrheum.2010.43
- Soligard, T., Schwellnus, M., Alonso, J.-M., Bahr, R., Clarsen, B., Dijkstra, H. P., et al. (2016). How much is too much? (Part 1) International Olympic Committee consensus statement on load in sport and risk of injury. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(17), 1030-1041. Expert consensus on elite sport: 'Emerging evidence indicates that poor load management is a major risk factor for injury.' Load is defined broadly to include rapid changes in training and competition load, competition calendar congestion, psychological load and travel; the statement gives practical guidelines for prescribing and monitoring load and lists research priorities (abstract, PMID 27535989). 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096581
- Gabbett, T. J. (2016). The training-injury prevention paradox: should athletes be training smarter and harder? British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(5), 273-280. Narrative review proposing the 'Training-Injury Prevention Paradox' model, 'a phenomenon whereby athletes accustomed to high training loads have fewer injuries than athletes training at lower workloads.' 'Excessive and rapid increases in training loads are likely responsible for a large proportion of non-contact, soft-tissue injuries.' The paper proposes the acute:chronic workload ratio as 'a best practice predictor of training-related injuries'; that claim is disputed (see impellizzeri-2020-acwr-pitfalls) and is not used on this site as a number to train by (abstract, PMID 26758673). 10.1136/bjsports-2015-095788
- Impellizzeri, F. M., Tenan, M. S., Kempton, T., Novak, A., & Coutts, A. J. (2020). Acute:chronic workload ratio: conceptual issues and fundamental pitfalls. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 15(6), 907-913. 'Because no studies have even tried to estimate causal effects properly, manipulating ACWR in practical settings in order to change injury rates remains a conjecture and an overinterpretation of the available data.' Conclusion: 'There is no evidence supporting the use of ACWR in training-load-management systems or for training recommendations aimed at reducing injury risk. The statistical properties of the ratio make the ACWR an inaccurate metric and complicate its interpretation for practical applications' (abstract, PMID 32502973). 10.1123/ijspp.2019-0864
- Albert, C. M., Mittleman, M. A., Chae, C. U., Lee, I. M., Hennekens, C. H., & Manson, J. E. (2000). Triggering of sudden death from cardiac causes by vigorous exertion. The New England Journal of Medicine, 343(19), 1355-1361. Nested case-crossover analysis within the Physicians' Health Study: 122 sudden deaths among 21,481 male physicians who were free of self-reported cardiovascular disease at baseline. Relative risk of sudden death during and up to 30 minutes after vigorous exertion was 16.9 (95% CI 10.5-27.0), but the absolute risk was one sudden death per 1.51 million episodes of exertion, and habitual vigorous exercise attenuated the relative risk (P for trend 0.006). 10.1056/NEJM200011093431902
- Zouhal, H., Jacob, C., Delamarche, P., & Gratas-Delamarche, A. (2008). Catecholamines and the effects of exercise, training and gender. Sports Medicine, 38(5), 401-423. Adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine) 'are the main hormones whose concentrations increase markedly during exercise'; studies report '1.5 to >20 times basal concentrations depending on exercise characteristics (e.g. duration and intensity)'. They take part in cardiovascular and respiratory adjustments and in substrate mobilization and use. Endurance-trained men show a higher adrenaline response than untrained men to intense exercise at the same relative intensity (the 'sports adrenal medulla'); in women the evidence is scarce and more conflicting (abstract, PMID 18416594). 10.2165/00007256-200838050-00004
- Siebers, M., Biedermann, S. V., Bindila, L., Lutz, B., & Fuss, J. (2021). Exercise-induced euphoria and anxiolysis do not depend on endogenous opioids in humans. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 126, 105173. Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of the opioid antagonist naltrexone: participants (N = 63) showed increased euphoria and decreased anxiety after 45 min of moderate-intensity treadmill running compared with walking, and running raised plasma anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol. 'Opioid blockade did not prevent the development of euphoria and reduced anxiety as well as elevation of eCB levels following exercise.' Conclusion: 'this study indicates that the development of a runner's high does not depend on opioid signaling in humans, but makes eCBs strong candidates in humans, as previously shown in mice' (abstract, PMID 33582575). 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105173
- Raichlen, D. A., Foster, A. D., Seillier, A., Giuffrida, A., & Gerdeman, G. L. (2013). Exercise-induced endocannabinoid signaling is modulated by intensity. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 113(4), 869-875. Recreationally fit runners ran on a treadmill at four intensities: 'eCB signaling is indeed intensity dependent, with significant changes in circulating eCBs observed following moderate intensities only (very high and very low intensity exercises do not significantly alter circulating eCB levels).' The authors conclude the results support the hypothesis that eCB activity is related to the neurobiological effects of exercise, and that future studies must take intensity into account (abstract, PMID 22990628). 10.1007/s00421-012-2495-5
- Ekkekakis, P., Parfitt, G., & Petruzzello, S. J. (2011). The pleasure and displeasure people feel when they exercise at different intensities: decennial update and progress towards a tripartite rationale for exercise intensity prescription. Sports Medicine, 41(8), 641-671. Review of 33 studies published 1999-2009: pleasure falls mainly above the ventilatory or lactate threshold; below it most people report pleasant changes, near it responses vary widely between individuals, and above it they are uniformly negative; a self-selected intensity seems to improve tolerance of higher intensities (abstract, PMID 21780850). 10.2165/11590680-000000000-00000
- dos Santos, M., Ferrari, G., Lee, D. H., Rey-López, J. P., Aune, D., Liao, B., et al. (2022). Association of the 'weekend warrior' and other leisure-time physical activity patterns with all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a nationwide cohort study. JAMA Internal Medicine, 182(8), 840-848. 350,978 US adults (National Health Interview Survey 1997-2013, self-reported activity), median follow-up 10.4 years, 21,898 deaths. Versus inactive participants, all-cause mortality HR 0.92 (95% CI 0.83-1.02) for weekend warriors (1-2 sessions a week) and 0.85 (0.83-0.88) for the regularly active (3 or more sessions). 'Given the same amount of total MVPA, weekend warrior participants had similar all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates as regularly active participants' (HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.97-1.20, for all-cause mortality). Conclusion: people who reach recommended levels 'may experience the same benefit whether the sessions are performed throughout the week or concentrated into fewer days' (abstract, PMID 35788615). 10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.2488
- Khurshid, S., Al-Alusi, M. A., Churchill, T. W., Guseh, J. S., & Ellinor, P. T. (2023). Accelerometer-derived 'weekend warrior' physical activity and incident cardiovascular disease. JAMA, 330(3), 247-252. UK Biobank, 89,573 adults with a week of wrist accelerometry: active weekend warrior (at least 150 min of MVPA with at least 50% achieved in 1-2 days), active regular, or inactive. Both active patterns were associated with similarly lower risks of atrial fibrillation (HR 0.78 and 0.81), myocardial infarction (0.73 and 0.65), heart failure (0.62 and 0.64) and stroke (0.79 and 0.83); at the median threshold of 230.4 min a week the stroke associations were no longer significant. Conclusion: 'Physical activity concentrated within 1 to 2 days was associated with similarly lower risk of cardiovascular outcomes to more evenly distributed activity' (abstract, PMID 37462704). 10.1001/jama.2023.10875
- Meeusen, R., Duclos, M., Foster, C., Fry, A., Gleeson, M., Nieman, D., Raglin, J., Rietjens, G., Steinacker, J., & Urhausen, A. (2013). Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the overtraining syndrome: joint consensus statement of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). European Journal of Sport Science, 13(1), 1-24. Distinguishes functional overreaching, non-functional overreaching, and overtraining syndrome (prolonged maladaptation); recovery balance and monitoring are central. 10.1080/17461391.2012.730061
- Cheung, K., Hume, P. A., & Maxwell, L. (2003). Delayed onset muscle soreness: treatment strategies and performance factors. Sports Medicine, 33(2), 145-164. 10.2165/00007256-200333020-00005
- NHS. (2026). DVT (deep vein thrombosis) (page last reviewed 30 April 2026). DVT is a blood clot in a vein, usually in the leg, and can be dangerous; get medical help as soon as possible. Symptoms: throbbing pain in 1 leg (rarely both), usually in the calf or thigh; swelling in 1 leg; red, blue or darkened skin around the painful area; swollen veins. Ask for an urgent GP appointment or NHS 111 if you think you have DVT. Call 999 or go to A&E if you have DVT symptoms such as pain and swelling and feel short of breath or have chest pain: clots can travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism), which can be life-threatening; do not drive yourself to A&E. DVT is more likely with varicose veins, age over 60, overweight, smoking, previous DVT, oestrogen-containing contraception or HRT, cancer, pregnancy or a baby in the previous 6 weeks, surgery or hospital stay, and long journeys of more than 4 hours. If a doctor thinks you have DVT you should be referred to hospital within 24 hours for an ultrasound scan. Prevention: stay active, take regular walks, drink plenty of fluids, and do not sit still for long periods. www.nhs.uk/conditions/deep-vein-thrombosis-dvt