Exercise and fitness.

Exercise testing and prescription appear to play an important role in promoting health maintenance strategies for women. Multistage exercise tolerance testing provides invaluable information in assessing the patient's functional capacity. The diagnostic significance of exercise-induced ST-segment depression is tenuous, however, in women with a low likelihood of heart disease. Research suggests that numerous physiologic mechanisms act to increase fetal tolerance to the circulatory and respiratory challenges of moderate maternal exercise. Moreover, appropriately prescribed endurance exercise programs for women are associated with the same salutary effects as men. Even more encouraging is the fact that these benefits can be attained at moderate levels of exercise--if long-term compliance is maintained.