Exercise and Blood Clots

There is a growing body of published and anecdotal literature detailing reports of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolism (PE) after prolonged, strenuous endurance exercise in otherwise healthy athletes. The myriad benefits obtained from regular sustained exercise are undeniable. However, such case reports indicate that, in at least a small fraction of otherwise healthy avid exercisers, there may be an augmented risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE or blood clot) following endurance exercise. Given that marathon participation has increased ~40% over the past decade, the increased risk of VTE associated with strenuous endurance events has implications for the increasing numbers of athletes who compete in endurance events. Since 2009, our research group has studied and provided education to scientific, clinical, and athletic populations on risk factors and possible interventions to mitigate VTE risk in this special population.

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