What the cardiologist should know about physical training

Because of the cardiovascular stresses and the potential risks of physical training, cardiologists are often asked to give an opinion on aptitude for sport. It is therefore important to understand the fundamentals of physical training. This is based on specific rules; general physical preparation, progressive nature of the activity, individualisation of training programmes, specificity of sporting activity, recovery times and planning of exercise. The two main types of training (aerobics and weight training) are used preferentially according to the type of sport but good aerobic capacity is required in all specialities. The training implies a certain physical stress and the individual has his own limitations. The cardiologist may help identify an imbalance between the two without being an expert in all sporting disciplines. In this field, the physician is no substitute for the coach but can help in managing the sportsman's health.