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Effects of Exercise Training on Cardiovascular Risks Factors in Primary...
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Effects of Exercise Training on Cardiovascular Risks Factors in Primary and Secondary Prevention

A special issue of Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology (ISSN 2411-5142). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Exercise for Health Promotion".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 1047

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Caminiti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Human Science and Promotion of Quality of Life, San Raffaele Open University, 00163 Rome, Italy
2. Cardiovascular Unit, San Raffaele IRCCS, 00163 Rome, Italy
Interests: hypertension; chronic heart failure; atrial fibrillation; exercise training; sport medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Physical activity, mainly in the form of structured exercise training, is a key non-pharmacological intervention for the management of patients at risk of developing and/or with already-diagnosed cardiovascular diseases. Counteracting cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, is one of the main ways in which exercise reduces cardiovascular risk and improves patient outcomes. Performing physical training is highly recommended by the World Health Organization and by European as well as American guidelines; however, while physical training is currently conceived as a large-scale intervention, aimed at the entire population, there is a growing need for developing individually tailored protocols considering the distinctive characteristics and risk profiles of patients. This is particularly true in aging societies where exercise must be adapted to elderly cardiovascular patients carrying multiple cardiovascular risk factors and a high burden of comorbidities.

To use exercise more properly in different clinical scenarios, we need to fill several gaps in the current knowledge. The best format of exercise training for containing cardiovascular risk factors is still to be defined. It is necessary to establish a dose–effect response in different age groups and in both genders, and to identify the best dose of exercise necessary to contain multiple risk factors at the same time. Moreover, to increase the adherence to exercise training programs, it is worth studying the effectiveness of short daily sessions of exercise, that are easily deliverable and do not limit the daily routines of patients. Studies exploring potential synergic or antagonistic effects of exercise and drugs (especially those more recently introduced) on risk factors are lacking. Women, elderly, and frail patients are under-represented in trials assessing the effects of exercise on cardiovascular risk factors.

This Special Issue aims to collect original articles, reviews, and meta-analyses reporting the latest findings on the topic of exercise effects on cardiovascular risk factors.

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Caminiti
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • exercise training
  • cardiovascular risk factors
  • physical activity
  • personalized exercise protocols
  • aging and cardiovascular health

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 538 KiB  
Article
Effectiveness of a Multidisciplinary Treatment Program for Severe Obesity in Adults Based on the Clinically Significant Weight Loss
by Greice Westphal-Nardo, Angélica Sbrolini Marques Mincache, Paulo César Franzini, Mara Jane Pascoini dos Santos, Gisele Nicchio Rocha, Ieda Carla Candido, Andrea Herrera-Santelices, Felipe Merchan Ferraz Grizzo, Jean-Philippe Chaput and Nelson Nardo Junior
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(2), 225; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10020225 - 11 Jun 2025
Abstract
Background: Obesity is a chronic and complex disease; by its nature, it represents an enormous challenge to be solved and managed. For that matter, several guidelines have been published, but there is still a long way to go until concrete scaled results can [...] Read more.
Background: Obesity is a chronic and complex disease; by its nature, it represents an enormous challenge to be solved and managed. For that matter, several guidelines have been published, but there is still a long way to go until concrete scaled results can be presented. Adults with obesity, and especially severe obesity, need to have access to treatment programs, but they are not available for the vast majority of the population. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary treatment program for obesity (MTPO) offered to adults (ages 18 to 50 years old) with a BMI over 30 kg/m2. Methods: Participants were invited through media ads, resulting in 404 participants for the first phase of that study, from whom the risk profile was assessed. After that, 180 participants (82.8% with severe obesity) concluded the MTPO, which consisted of 48 sessions of exercises and the same number of professional orientations about a healthy lifestyle, including the importance of being physically active, how to improve their eating habits, and how to control their emotions. Results: For the analysis of results, participants were grouped according to their weight loss in terciles, with the first, tercile presenting an average weight loss of 7.6%, which is considered clinically significant. In the same way, the average percental variations were even higher in this group for body fat (12.7%) and the lean mass to fat mass ratio (LM/FM), which increased by 14.3%. The homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, HOMA-IR, was around 3 times the variation of body mass, whereas the triglycerides (TG) and the hemoglobin A1C (H1Ac) were around twice that rate. Conclusions: These results made clear the effectiveness of the MTPO, which needs to be tested in public health services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Exercise Training on Cardiovascular Risks Factors in Primary and Secondary Prevention)
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24 pages, 3169 KiB  
Article
Effects of High-Intensity Intermittent Training Combined with Asparagus officinalis Extract Supplementation on Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Function Parameters in Obese and Overweight Individuals: A Randomized Control Trial
by Tadsawiya Padkao and Piyapong Prasertsri
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(2), 202; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10020202 - 1 Jun 2025
Viewed by 454
Abstract
Background: High-intensity intermittent training (HIIT) has been proven to improve cardio-metabolic and respiratory health outcomes. In addition, 20-hydroxyecdysone from plant extracts has been studied for its anabolic effects. However, studies examining these two interventions in individuals who are obese or overweight are limited. [...] Read more.
Background: High-intensity intermittent training (HIIT) has been proven to improve cardio-metabolic and respiratory health outcomes. In addition, 20-hydroxyecdysone from plant extracts has been studied for its anabolic effects. However, studies examining these two interventions in individuals who are obese or overweight are limited. This study, thus, examined the effects of HIIT combined with Asparagus officinalis (A. officinalis) extract supplementation on cardiovascular and pulmonary function parameters in obese and overweight individuals. Methods: Seventy-two obese and overweight participants were randomized into four groups (n = 18 each): the control (CON) group; HIIT group (HIIT for 3 days/week); AOE (A. officinalis extract) group (supplementation with 20E at 1.71 mg/kg/day); and HIIT + AOE group. Pre- and 12-week post-intervention measures included heart rate (HR), HR variability, endothelial function, blood pressure (BP), BP variability, pulmonary function and volume, respiratory muscle strength, chest expansion, and body composition. Results: The HIIT + AOE group showed better HR variability with higher high-frequency power and a lower low-frequency/high-frequency ratio (both p = 0.038) compared to the CON group. The peak blood flow increased in both the HIIT (p = 0.03) and HIIT + AOE (p = 0.028) groups, but only the HIIT group had a shorter vascular recovery time (p = 0.048). The maximum expiratory pressure was increased in both the HIIT and HIIT + AOE groups compared to the CON group (p = 0.029 and p = 0.041). The ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity, the percent-predicted FEV1/FVC, and chest wall expansion were higher in the HIIT + AOE group than in the CON group (p = 0.047, p = 0.038, and p = 0.001). The waist-to-hip ratio was lower in the HIIT + AOE group than in the CON group (p = 0.043). There were no significant differences in HR, BP, BP variability, or pulmonary volume parameters among groups. Conclusions: The combination of HIIT with A. officinalis extract supplementation markedly improves HR variability. Moreover, it also greatly improves expiratory muscle strength, chest wall expansion, pulmonary function, and body composition parameters in obese and overweight individuals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Exercise Training on Cardiovascular Risks Factors in Primary and Secondary Prevention)
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11 pages, 663 KiB  
Article
Post-Exercise Hypotension Induced by a Short Isometric Exercise Session Versus Combined Exercise in Hypertensive Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease: A Pilot Study
by Matteo Vitarelli, Francesco Laterza, Saúl Peñín-Grandes, Marco Alfonso Perrone, Alejandro Santos-Lozano, Maurizio Volterrani, Giuseppe Marazzi, Vincenzo Manzi, Elvira Padua, Barbara Sposato, Valentina Morsella, Ferdinando Iellamo and Giuseppe Caminiti
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(2), 189; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10020189 - 25 May 2025
Viewed by 315
Abstract
Background: Short sessions of isometric exercise have been shown to reduce blood pressure (BP) in normotensive and hypertensive subjects. However, there are few data in hypertensive patients with underlying ischemic heart disease (IHD). In the present study, we compared post-exercise hypotension (PEH) induced [...] Read more.
Background: Short sessions of isometric exercise have been shown to reduce blood pressure (BP) in normotensive and hypertensive subjects. However, there are few data in hypertensive patients with underlying ischemic heart disease (IHD). In the present study, we compared post-exercise hypotension (PEH) induced by isometric versus combined, aerobic plus dynamic resistance exercise in IHD patients. Methods: Twenty-five stable patients with established IHD and with treated hypertension were enrolled. The study had a cross-over design. All patients performed in a random order and on different days: (1) isometric exercise session (IES) consisting of bilateral knee extension, performed at 20% of maximal voluntary contraction and lasting 20 min; (2) combined exercise session (CES) including moderate-intensity continuous exercise at and dynamic resistance exercise performed at 60% of one repetition maximum, and lasting 60 min and (3) control session (no exercise). BP was measured at rest, immediately after the training and then every 15 min up to 90 min. Results: The repeated measures ANOVA analysis showed that systolic BP significantly decreased after the CES session compared to the control (F = 6.2; p 0.001) and IES (F = 4.4; p 0.004). Systolic BP significantly decreased after IES compared to the control (F = 3.6; p 0.036). Diastolic BP did not show significant changes after CES and IES compared to the control (CES vs. control: F = 2.2; p 0.142; IES vs. control (F = 2.5; p 0.062). There were no significant differences in diastolic BP changes between CES and IES (CES vs. IES: F = 1.8; p 0.156). Conclusions: We observed that CES was more effective than IES in reducing systolic BP; IES was as effective as CES in inducing diastolic PEH in hypertensive patients with underlying IHD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Exercise Training on Cardiovascular Risks Factors in Primary and Secondary Prevention)
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