Impact of short-term training camp on arterial stiffness in endurance runners

Abstract

Lack of elasticity in the central artery causes an increase in left ventricular (LV) afterload. Although regular moderate-intensity endurance exercise improves cardiovascular function, including arterial destiffening, little is known about the effect of short-term vigorous exercise on cardiovascular function (i.e., the interaction between cardiac and arterial functions). We measured arterial stiffness [via pulse wave velocity from the heart to ankle (haPWV)] and LV contractility (via systolic interval time) before and after a 1-week training camp in a total of 33 regularly highly-trained collegiate endurance runners. They participated in three training sessions per day which mainly consisted of long-distance running and sprint training. The averaged running distance was ≈ 44% longer during the camp than the regular training program. After the camp, heart rate at rest and haPWV were significantly increased, whereas blood pressure remained unchanged. Although a ratio of pre-ejection period and LV ejection time (PEP/LVET, an index of blunted LV contractility) was unaltered, presumably due to the large variability of individual response, there was a significant correlation between changes in haPWV and PEP/LVET (r = 0.54, P < 0.01). These results suggest that, in regularly highly-trained endurance athletes, arterial stiffness increases after a training camp characterized by greater training volume (vs. regular training), and that the individual response in arterial stiffness correlates with the corresponding changes in myocardial contractility.

Arterial Stiffness and Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Endurance Athletes

“…Steding et al [40] reported the relationship between oxygen uptake and cardiac diastolic volume in endurance athletes. On the other hand, recent studies have reported that increased aortic stiffness is associated with reduced LV function and endurance performance [37,41]. Thus, low aortic stiffness in endurance-trained athletes might indicate endurance performance and the athletic condition.…”

Impact of Short-Term Training Camp on Aortic Blood Pressure in Collegiate Endurance Runners

“…We previously reported that in well-trained male collegiate endurance runners, systemic arterial stiffness increased after a 7-day intense endurance training camp (Tomoto et al, 2015 ). Since arterial stiffening promotes early return of the reflected wave from peripheral to the heart and increases aortic BP (Nichols and McDonald, 2011 ), we hypothesized that the arterial stiffening induced by intense endurance training may cause to amplify the aortic arterial pressure waveform.…”

Is individual day-to-day variation of arterial stiffness associated with variation of maximal aerobic performance?

“…As a result, baPWV monitoring can provide an assessment of physical condition associated with sport performance for coaches and athletes in sports. Tomoto et al [28] studied highly trained male collegiate endurance runners who participated in a training camp that involved relatively higher-intensity exercise and greater training volume. They found that systemic arterial stiffness was significantly increased after the camp.…”