Fig. 2.

Hypothesised changes in artery function and structure (remodelling) in response to inactivity and exercise training in humans. Studies performed in both animals and humans suggest that rapid changes occur in artery function, including nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, in response to exercise training and that these changes are superseded by arterial remodelling and normalisation of function. Physical inactivity is associated with rapid changes in arterial diameter, with structural remodelling occurring within weeks of, for example, spinal cord injury. There is little evidence for longer term vascular dysfunction in response to inactivity. Changes in artery function and structure occur rapidly in response to activity and inactivity