Unfavorable Effects of Resistance Training on Central Arterial Compliance

Abstract

Background-Reductions in the compliance of central arteries exert a number of adverse effects on cardiovascular function and disease risk. Endurance training is efficacious in increasing arterial compliance in healthy adults. We determined the effects of resistance training on carotid arterial compliance using the intervention study design. Methods and Results-Twenty-eight healthy men 20 to 38 years old were randomly assigned to the intervention group (nϭ14) and the control group (nϭ14). Control subjects were instructed not to alter their normal activity levels throughout the study period. Intervention subjects underwent 3 supervised resistance training sessions per week for 4 months and detraining for a subsequent 4 months. The resistance training increased maximal strength in all muscle groups tested (PϽ0.001). There were no significant differences in baseline arterial compliance and ␤-stiffness index between the intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, carotid arterial compliance decreased 19% (PϽ0.05), and ␤-stiffness index increased 21% (PϽ0.01) after resistance training. These values returned completely to the baseline levels during the detraining period. Arterial compliance did not change in the control group. In both groups, there were no significant changes in brachial and carotid blood pressure, carotid intima-media thickness, lumen diameter, and femoral arterial compliance. Changes in carotid artery compliance were significantly and negatively related to corresponding changes in left ventricular mass index (rϭϪ0.56, PϽ0.001) and left ventricular hypertrophy index (rϭϪ0.68, PϽ0.001). Conclusions-In marked contrast to the beneficial effect of regular aerobic exercise, several months of resistance training "reduces" central arterial compliance in healthy men.

Age and cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with arterial stiffening and left ventricular remodelling

“…As baseline levels of BP are subjected to hold-down force, the pressure signal obtained by tonometry was calibrated by equating the carotid MAP and diastolic blood pressure to the brachial artery value. 12,14 The coefficient of variation for inter-observer reproducibility of AI was 5% in our laboratory. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) X140 or diastolic blood pressure X90.…”

“…The participants had various physical activity levels, and none were regularly engaged in weight training. 14 None of the participants smoked and they were not taking steroids or hormone replacement therapy. None of the young women were taking oral contraceptives.…”

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

“…Similar findings have been seen with increases in stiffness in the central arteries following resistance training in both acute and training studies. 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.…”

“…Confounding the recommendation employing RE as an exercise regimen, recent evidence indicates that RE may cause increased arterial stiffness in young, healthy normotensive individuals. 11,12 However, these findings are controversial, as not all studies show an increase in arterial stiffness with resistance training. 13,14 Increases in arterial stiffness, which are associated with increased mortality and morbidity, can lead to decreases in blood flow because of increased peripheral resistance.…”

Changes of central haemodynamic parameters during mental stress and acute bouts of static and dynamic exercise

“…With respect to exercise, there is evidence that chronic dynamic training has a beneficial effect on AS, 7 whereas chronic resistance exercise may have an unfavourable influence on central haemodynamics. 8,9 Nevertheless, there is little and inconsistent data about the effects of acute bouts of exercise on AS. Acute aerobic exercise was found to induce either an increase 10 or a decrease 11,12 in central AS, whereas studies on acute bouts of resistance exercise showed either an increase 13 or no effect 14 on central AS.…”