Arterial stiffness and wave reflection following exercise in resistance-trained men.
OBJECTIVE
Resistance training increases arterial stiffness and pressure wave reflection. We tested the hypothesis that potentially greater tonic arterial stiffness in resistance-trained (RT) men may alter the vascular response to an acute exercise stressor.


METHODS
Thirty participants (age 22 +/- 0.5 yr; 15 highly RT men and 15 sedentary non-RT men) underwent measures of central (carotid femoral) and peripheral (femoral dorsalis pedis) pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx; index of central pressure wave reflection derived from radial artery applanation tonometry and pulse wave analysis) before and 10, 20, and 30 min after maximal aerobic exercise.


RESULTS
RT men were significantly stronger (bench press 143 +/- 7 vs 85 +/- 2 kg, P < 0.05) and heavier (93 +/- 3 vs 82 +/- 3 kg, P < 0.05) than sedentary men. Groups did not differ in resting central/peripheral PWV or in AIx. AIx was not changed at 10 min after maximal aerobic exercise in both groups and was reduced similarly in both groups at 20 and 30 min after maximal aerobic exercise (P < 0.05). Peripheral PWV decreased similarly at all time points after maximal aerobic exercise in both groups and was not recovered by 30 min (P < 0.05). There was no change in central PWV after maximal aerobic exercise.


CONCLUSIONS
The arterial response to maximal aerobic exercise was similar in highly RT and non-RT men. There was no change in intensity of central pressure wave reflection 10 min after exercise, despite significant reductions in peripheral muscular artery stiffness. Arterial reactivity to an acute exercise stressor is not impaired in young, highly RT men.
Heffernan
Kevin S
KS
The Exercise and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA. kheffer2@uiuc.edu
Jae
Sae Young
SY
Echols
George H
GH
Lepine
Nicolas R
NR
Fernhall
Bo
B
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D004548:Elasticity; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D008297:Male; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology*