Abstract
Sports and strenuous exercise have traditionally been discouraged for people with
hemophilia (PWH) because of the perceived risk of bleeding. In this review, studies
investigating the pros and cons of exercise are presented, and although most studies
are of low validity, the randomized trials that do exist tell us that PWH benefit
from exercise in terms of improved muscular function, endurance, and quality of life
and that increased bleeding does not seem to be an issue. The authors also review
the studies that have analyzed the current physical status of PWH compared with the
general population in different countries. Finally, they review the current knowledge
on the effect of exercise on specific coagulation factors as well as on global coagulation
and demonstrate that exercise increases factor VIII levels in healthy persons, all
persons with hemophilia B (HB) and in persons with mild and moderate hemophilia A
(HA). Further, the authors did not find any evidence that the global coagulation capacity,
measured with thrombin generation or thromboelastographic methods, increases after
exercise in severe HA or HB.
Keywords
exercise - hemophilia - endurance - quality of life - thrombin generation
