Background: This study aimed to systematically review and analyze the available evidence on the safety and efficacy of physical activity (PA) in patients with HCM. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases up to March 30, 2025. Fourteen studies (4 RCTs) were included in the qualitative synthesis and ten in the quantitative synthesis, totaling 10478 patients. Results: The meta-analysis demonstrated a significant improvement in peak VO₂ in the moderate intensity PA (MIPA) group, with a mean difference of 1.77 mL/kg/min (95% CI: 0.93 to 2.60, I² = 38.2%, p = 0.19), while changes in body mass index were not significant (MD: −0.66 kg/m²; 95% CI: −1.77 to 0.44; I² = 62%; p = 0.07). No significant differences were observed in the occurrence of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 0.93 to 2.52, I² = 28.3%, p = 0.24), atrial fibrillation (OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.77 to 1.03, I² = 28.6%, p = 0.23), or syncope (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 0.72 to 2.10, I² = 25.6%, p = 0.24) between the MIPA and sedentary group. Additionally, the occurrence of NSVT between the high-intensity PA and MIPA group showed no significant difference (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.60 to 2.36, I² = 0%, p = 0.99). Conclusion: The results suggest that regular exercise does not increase the risk of NSVT, AF, or syncope while enhancing peak VO₂, indicating that regular exercise is safe and beneficial in HCM patients.

Adequate hydration is crucial for an athlete’s health and performance. There is some evidence that different compositions of various mineral waters may improve exercise performance and affect different biomarkers. The aim was to investigate the consumption of mineral water from the spring „Toplavoda” in terms of safety profile and its effect on body composition and functional and biochemical parameters in professional athletes. During the preparation phase of their mesocycle, 14 male professional handball players underwent a complete sports medical screening exam with cardiopulmonary stress test (CPET), blood gas analysis, and oxidative stress markers dynamics at four points during the CPET. The athletes were then randomized into two equal groups where the first group consumed mineral water, and the second group consumed tap water. After four weeks, biochemical analysis and CPET were repeated. Routine analyses showed that the “mineral water” group increased the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (ANCOVA=0,05) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (ANCOVA=0,001), a greater metabolic equivalent of task (MET) at the end of the test (ANCOVA=0,49), with no significant changes in other measured parameters. Consuming “mineral water” appears safe, with some potential positive effects compared to tap water, mostly on hemoglobin parameters, fatigue perception, and exercise tolerance.

Adequate hydration is crucial to an athlete’s health and performance. There is some evidence that the different compositions of various mineral water types may improve exercise performance and affect different biomarkers. The aim was to investigate the consumption of mineral water from the “Topla voda” spring in terms of its safety profile and its effect on body composition and functional and biochemical parameters in professional athletes. During the preparation phase of their mesocycle, 14 male professional handball players underwent a complete sports medical screening exam with a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), blood gas analysis, and oxidative stress marker dynamics taken at four points during the CPET. The athletes were then randomized into two equal groups; the first group consumed mineral water, and the second group consumed tap water. After four weeks, the biochemical analysis and CPET were repeated. Routine analyses showed that the “mineral water” group had increased their mean corpuscular hemoglobin (ANCOVA = 0.050) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (ANCOVA = 0.001) and had a greater metabolic equivalent of task (MET) value at the end of the test (ANCOVA = 0.049), with no significant changes in the other measured parameters. Consuming “mineral water” appears to be safe, with some potential positive effects compared with tap water, mostly in terms of hemoglobin parameters and exercise tolerance.