How does the heart adapt to resistance exercise?

The heart adapts to resistance exercise primarily by increasing in size and strength. This phenomenon is known as cardiac hypertrophy, where the walls of the heart, particularly the ventricles, become thicker due to the increased workload imposed by resistance training. As individuals engage in regular resistance exercise, the heart must pump more blood to supply oxygen and nutrients to the muscles being worked. Over time, this leads to both the enlargement of heart chambers and an increase in muscle mass, resulting in a more powerful heart that can efficiently pump blood with each beat.

The adaptation is beneficial as it enhances overall cardiovascular efficiency, allowing the individual to perform physical activities with greater stamina and reduced fatigue. While adaptations can also occur in different chambers of the heart, the most notable changes in response to resistance training involve significant improvements in both size and strength of the heart muscle as a whole.