Red blood cell deformability and physical activity

Physical exertion and sport cause changes of different nature and degree (positive or negative, strong, weak, moderate) in blood and blood cells’ biomechanical and fluid properties. The aim of this minireview was to attempt to summarize the main red blood cell deformability alterations during and after physical activity classified as follows: erythrocyte geometric shape; erythrocyte membrane rheological properties; biochemical and structural properties of erythrocyte membrane lipids and proteins; hemoglobin concentration; calcium ion concentration; intracellular diffusion and osmosis; nitric oxide and erythrocyte nitric oxide synthase; erythrocyte ATP synthase; erythrocyte age and degree of erythrocyte cell maturation; body and erythrocyte temperature. It is essential to study and evaluate the individual hemorheological response profile of erythrocyte deformability during physical activity because it is strongly personal. This is one of the major erythrocyte properties determining oxygen supply to working muscles. The multiple hemorheological changes during physical activity and their interconnectedness and strong personality make their differentiation very difficult. It is reasonable to weigh their effects (with specific quantitative measurements) to simplify the analysis and increase the likelihood of obtaining valid conclusions. But there will always be the probabilistic nature of these conclusions, determined by the complex and strictly individual picture of the hemorheological effects of physical exercises and activities.