Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Health: Clarifying the Risk-Protection Paradox

This Keynote lecture was presented at the 2017 ACSM Health & Fitness Summit by Barry A. Franklin of William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI.

This lecture will summarize the relations between physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, surgical outcomes and mortality, with specific reference to practical implications for health-fitness professionals. In addition, the presentation will compare moderate exercise versus high-intensity interval training, and the added effectiveness (if any) of extreme exercise on mortality. Finally, I plan to discuss ‘at risk activities’ for individuals with known or suspected cardiovascular disease, and provide recommendations to reduce the risk of exercise-related acute cardiac events.