Arterial stiffness before and after moderate intensity exercise in athletes and controls: a cross-sectional observational study

Abstract

BackgroundArterial stiffness is an independent predictor for cardiovascular disease and mortality. There has been no previous research comparing the acute effects of exercise on arterial stiffness in resistance and endurance athletes. This information would help to reveal how arterial function responds to exercise training.ObjectivesTo measure and compare arterial stiffness and hemodynamic variables in resistance athletes, endurance athletes and controls, before and after moderate intensity exercise.MethodsCentral and peripheral pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured using Doppler ultrasound and calculated by the ‘foot to foot’ method before and after exercise. PWV was initially measured at rest for a 1 min period. Thereafter subjects cycled for 30 min at moderate intensity (60% of maximum heart rate, based on age). PWV was measured at postexercise intervals of 3, 15 and 30 min. Blood pressure and heart rate measurement preceded all PWV measurements.ResultsControls were significantly younger than both athletic groups (p<0.05). Groups did not significantly differ in resting PWV. There was no change in central/peripheral PWV after exercise in the resistance and control groups. Central PWV significantly increased post exercise in endurance athletes (mean (sd) resting PWV: 8.0 (2.0) m/s; 3 min postexercise: 10.5 (4.0) m/s; p=0.027, 95% CIs: 0.30 to 4.42) and recovered to resting values by 15 min. Systolic blood pressure increased significantly (p<0.05) in the endurance group from 136 (16) g at rest to 151 (13) 3 min after exercise.ConclusionsPWV in the endurance group significantly increased after exercise, possibly due to the concomitant rise in blood pressure. However, PWV did not change in response to exercise in the resistance or control groups. Lack of significant differences between the groups may be explained by problems with ultrasound measurement and a small sample size in the resistance group.

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“…The effect of acute moderate exercise was evaluated by Dulai et al, who compared endurance-trained with resistance-trained subjects and sedentary controls at rest and after acute exercise. They found no differences in PWV values between the groups at rest, while after exercise, PWV and systolic blood pressures increased in endurance athletes, but not in controls and resistance-trained athletes (Dulai et al, 2011). Very young sportsmen, aged 11-16 years, were compared to sedentary controls at rest and after dynamic and isometric exercise.…”

“…Some other studies reported no differences in aortic PWV between endurance athletes and healthy non-athlete controls (Dulai et al, 2011;Rátgéber et al, 2017). The effects of intense resistance training on arterial compliance were also evaluated, but the results were contradictory (Miyachi, 2013).…”

Η Επίδραση Της Διάρκειας Βαδίσματος Στην Ελαστικότητα Των Μεγάλων Αρτηριών Καθώς Και Στην Αντιοξειδωτική Ικανότητα Του Οργανισμού Σε Ασθενείς Με Στεφανιαία Νόσο

“…• Ήπια αύξηση της κρεατινίνης πλάσματος: Ως προς την ένταση της άσκησης, τα μέχρι τώρα δεδομένα είναι ασαφή ως προς το εάν η χαμηλής ή μέτριας έντασης άσκηση επηρεάζει με ωφέλιμο τρόπο την ελαστικότητα των αγγείων. 256 Επίσης, φαίνεται και το είδος της άσκησης να έχει σημαντικό ρόλο: ενώ αναφέρθηκαν μελέτες που τεκμηριώνουν την ευνοϊκή επίδραση στην ελαστικότητα των αγγείων της άσκησης αντοχής, άλλες μελέτες δείχνουν ότι η άσκηση αντιστάσεων δεν ωφελεί 257 ή αντιθέτως, μπορεί να επιδράσει δυσμενώς στην αρτηριακή ελαστικότητα 258 Υπάρχουν πολύ περιορισμένα δεδομένα σχετικά με τους υποκείμενους μηχανισμούς μέσω των οποίων η τακτική άσκηση έχει ευεργετικές επιδράσεις στα αγγεία.…”