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Exercise Tolerance

Meaning

Exercise tolerance is the clinical measure of an individual’s capacity to sustain physical exertion over a period of time, reflecting the integrated functional efficiency of the cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and metabolic systems. This metric is a vital indicator of overall physical health, conditioning, and physiological reserve, often assessed via graded exercise tests. Hormonal status, particularly the balance of thyroid hormones, growth hormone, and androgens, significantly influences an individual’s maximal capacity and recovery kinetics. Low tolerance can be a sign of systemic dysfunction.