Effects of muscle contraction timing during resistance training on vascular function

Abstract

Muscle contractions in normal resistance training are performed by eccentric (ECC, lowering phase) and concentric (CON, lifting phase) muscle contractions. However, the difference in effects of timing of muscle contraction during resistance training on arterial stiffness is unknown. This study investigated the effect of muscle contraction timing during resistance training on vascular function in healthy young adults. Thirty healthy men were randomly assigned to group of resistance training with quick lifting and slow lowering (ERT, n ¼ 10), group of resistance training with slow lifting and quick lowering (CRT, n ¼ 10) and sedentary groups (SED, n ¼ 10). The ERT and CRT groups underwent two supervised resistance-training sessions per week for 10 weeks. The ERT group performed the on set of 8-10 repetitions with 3 s ECC and 1 s CON muscle contractions. In contrast, the CRT group performed the on set of 8-10 repetitions with 1 s ECC and 3 s CON muscle contractions. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) after ERT did not change from baseline. In contrast, baPWV after CRT increased from baseline (from 1049 ± 37 to 1153±30 cm s À1 , Po0.05). No significant changes in flow-mediated dilation were observed in the ERT and CRT groups. These values did not change in the SED group. These findings suggest that although both training does not deteriorate a vascular endothelial function, resistance training with quick lifting and slow lowering (that is, ERT) prevent the stiffening of arterial stiffness.

Effects of resistance training on arterial stiffness: a meta-analysis

“…However, little information is available regarding the potential influence of resistance training on non-musculoskeletal components, in particular, cardiovascular function. In marked contrast to the favourable effects of regular aerobic exercise on arterial stiffness,7–9 we and other groups have found that several months of resistance training ‘increases’ central arterial stiffness in healthy men 15–21. On the other hand, no such changes were observed in several other studies 22–25…”

Effect of low-intensity resistance training on arterial function

“…Large elastic and muscular arterial stiffness is influenced by vascular endothelial function (Wilkinson et al 2004). Therefore, one potential mechanism for reduced arterial stiffness is enhanced endothelial function, which is not improved by high-intensity resistance training (Okamoto et al 2009b). Thus, vascular endothelial cells play an important role in regulation of vascular activity by producing vasoactive substances such as NO.…”

“…The day-to-day reproducibility of the measurements for PWV was 5% (Okamoto et al 2009b). Blood pressure was measured in triplicate.…”

Creatine supplementation attenuates hemodynamic and arterial stiffness responses following an acute bout of isokinetic exercise

“…SPSS version 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used for all analyses. Since our primary variable was baPWV, a previous study was used to estimate that eight subjects per group would enable 85% power to detect a 6% change difference (Okamoto et al 2009). …”