Does cardiac output at rest change based on training status?

At rest, cardiac output typically remains consistent across individuals, regardless of their training status. This is because, at rest, the body has a baseline demand for blood flow that is relatively stable. While trained individuals may exhibit a lower resting heart rate due to improved cardiovascular efficiency, the overall cardiac output—which is the product of heart rate and stroke volume—tends to stabilize at this baseline level.

Additionally, while exercise training can lead to adaptations that enhance cardiac output during physical activity, those benefits do not extend to rest, where the heart's pumping capacity and blood demands do not require adjustment. Therefore, while the heart becomes more efficient and can pump more blood per beat (increased stroke volume) in trained individuals, the resting cardiac output typically remains unchanged. This clarification solidifies the understanding that the body's resting physiological demands lead to a consistency in cardiac output regardless of training levels.