EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE ON BLOOD RHEOLOGY

Abstract

Several cellular processes and interactions are mediated across membranes. For optimal functioning, cell membranes must have stability and functionality, properties that depend on their degree of fluidity. Both extreme and insufficient fluidity are undesirable characteristics that affect cell physiology and can contribute to the loss of stability and consequent acceleration of membrane destruction, leading to cell destruction. Erythrocytes are a good model for studying the stability of biological membranes for their convenience, as it is easy to monitor their lysis. The environment in which erythrocytes are found in the blood is a decisive factor in determining the composition and fluidity of the cell membrane. This environment can be altered by diet, exercise, and various diseases. Hemorology is understood as the study of the flow and components of blood in the micro and macrocirculation. Regular physical exercise promotes hemorheological adaptations in the blood, such as changes in the aggregation, deformability, and fluidity of erythrocytes, in order to improve efficiency in the collection, transport, and delivery of oxygen to tissues. Studying physical exercise in relation to hemorheology is important to determine the ability of cells to transport and transfer oxygen to tissues. Understanding the effects of physical exercise on hemorheology should encompass distinct analyses of acute and chronic alterations.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2025.001-020