Effect of whole body resistance training on arterial compliance in young men

Abstract

The effect of resistance training on arterial stiffening is controversial. We tested the hypothesis that resistance training would not alter central arterial compliance. Young healthy men (age, 23 ± 3.9 (mean ± S.E.M.) years; n = 28,) were whole-body resistance trained five times a week for 12 weeks, using a rotating 3-day split-body routine. Resting brachial blood pressure (BP), carotid pulse pressure, carotid cross-sectional compliance (CSC), carotid initima-media thickness (IMT) and left ventricular dimensions were evaluated before beginning exercise (PRE), after 6 weeks of exercise (MID) and at the end of 12 weeks of exercise (POST). CSC was measured using the pressure-sonography method. Results indicate reductions in brachial (61.1 ± 1.4 versus 57.6 ± 1.2 mmHg; P < 0.01) and carotid pulse pressure (52.2 ± 1.9 versus 46.8 ± 2.0 mmHg; P < 0.01) PRE to POST. In contrast, carotid CSC, β-stiffness index, IMT and cardiac dimensions were unchanged. In young men, central arterial compliance is unaltered with 12 weeks of resistance training and the mechanisms responsible for cardiac hypertrophy and reduced arterial compliance are either not inherent to all resistance-training programmes or may require a prolonged stimulus.

Effects of eccentric and concentric resistance training on arterial stiffness

“…That is, it is thought that CRT is the contraction system 13,14 that brings about an increase of blood pressure, due to local compressive forces, which further elevates blood pressure, increasing arterial stiffness. At the same time, Rakobowchuk et al 9 reported that carotid IMT and cardiac dimensions were unchanged. In this study, carotid IMT, carotid lumen diameter and IMT/lumen were unchanged.…”

“…Rakobowchuk et al 9 reported that carotid crosssectional compliance and carotid arterial stiffness was unchanged by 12 weeks of RT. This result differs from that of previous CRT results in this study and that of Miyachi et al 8 One cause for the difference between the results of this study and that of Rakobowchuk et al…”

“…Although the training program described by Rakobowchuk et al 9 increased the load level stepwise through 12 weeks, the present study involved high strength training from the start. The increased arterial stiffness may have been because the RT was conducted using local exercise in this study.…”

“…Miyachi et al 8 reported that arterial stiffness was significantly increased after 4 months of RT. On the other hand, Rakobowchuk et al 9 found arterial stiffness unchanged after 12 weeks of RT. Therefore, there is no unified view on the effects of RT on arterial stiffness.…”

Effect of 4 weeks of aerobic or resistance exercise training on arterial stiffness, blood flow and blood pressure in pre- and stage-1 hypertensives

“…12,41 Miyachi et al 11 reported a 19% decrease in central arterial compliance following 4 months of strength training in 14 young men compared to sedentary controls, but with no changes in peripheral compliance. It should be noted that not all studies have shown an increase in central arterial stiffness following resistance training, 42 but these studies included different populations and employed a different exercise prescription. We also observed small but significant increases in peripheral stiffness following 4 weeks of resistance training.…”