Acute effects of one-leg standing on arterial stiffness in older women: Role of the vision condition and standing dose

Abstract

Objective: One-leg standing has been used exclusively for static balance testing and training purposes. We investigated the acute effects of one-leg standing with open or closed eyes on arterial stiffness in older women and explored the role of standing dose in arterial stiffness regulation.Methods: Eighteen older women (60 ± 2 years) underwent non-intervention control (CON), one-leg standing with open eyes for 2 × 3 min (SO2), and one-leg standing with closed eyes for 1 × 3 min (SC1), 2 × 3 min (SC2), and 3 × 3 min trials (SC3) in a randomized self-controlled crossover fashion. Arterial stiffness in the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) was measured at baseline (BL), immediately (0 min), and 10 and 20 min after standing. CAVI changes from BL in the same trial (⊿CAVI) were used for analysis.Results: ⊿CAVI of the non-standing and standing side did not change with time in CON and SO2 trials. In SC1, SC2, and SC3 trials, ⊿CAVI of the standing side decreased significantly at 0 min compared to their corresponding BL (p < 0.01) and reverted gradually to the BL level afterward, with ⊿CAVI of the non-standing side undergoing no changes. At the time point of 0 min, only in the SC2 trial, ⊿CAVI of the standing side was significantly lower than that of CON (p < 0.01).Conclusion: One-leg standing with closed eyes, but not with open eyes, resulted in transient arterial stiffness improvement in older women. The improvement was restricted to standing leg, and the moderate standing dose had maximal benefit on arterial stiffness.

Acute arterial stiffness responses to on-ball balance exercises in young and middle-aged adults: Role of posture and cumulative effects

“…Though the decrease of arterial stiffness induced by kneeling and increase of arterial stiffness induced by sitting reached significance with time, the significant difference disappeared when compared with control condition. This supports our previous findings that increased amount of exercise did not inevitably elicit more benefit in arterial stiffness (Zhou et al, 2022). In the case of kneeling posture, the second bout of on-ball balance exercise even attenuated the impact of the previous bout.…”

“…In the case of kneeling posture, the second bout of on-ball balance exercise even attenuated the impact of the previous bout. This is very similar to the results that a third bout of oneleg standing attenuating the previous two bouts (Zhou et al, 2022). So we proposed that the arterial stiffness responses to on-ball balance exercise and one-leg standing bear the most common quantitative feature of the hormetic-biphasic dose response, characterized by a low dose stimulation and a high dose inhibition (Calabrese, 2013).…”

“…There is usually a dose-response relationship between physical activity and health benefit (Garber et al, 2011). However, greater benefit is not always associated with higher amounts of physical activity, even within a limited exercise volume range (Zhou et al, 2022). In terms of on-ball balance exercises, it is of interest to uncover whether cumulative effect exists when additional sessions are performed.…”

Effects of weight-bearing dance aerobics on lower limb muscle morphology, strength and functional fitness in older women

“…Additionally, the time spent on SCST was negatively correlated with somatic symptoms and anxiety/insomnia ( Hayashi et al, 2002 ). The SCST can enhance the arterial resilience of the supporting leg ( Zhou et al, 2022 ), thereby fostering cardiovascular well-being and preventing cardiovascular diseases in older women. These dual benefits represent the significance of SCST as an indicator of balance ability and a predictive measure of fall susceptibility, thus reflecting the overall health status.…”