title: Conduit diameter and wall remodeling in elite athletes and spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate localized and systemic effects of chronic exercise and inactivity on conduit artery remodeling in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited elite athletes engaged in predominantly lower limb (LL runners/cyclists, n = 10) or upper limb (UL canoe paddlers, n = 12) exercise and matched able-bodied, recreationally active, controls (C, n = 16). We also studied wheelchair controls (spinal cord injury, n = 9) and athletes (spinal cord injury, n = 1; spina bifida, n = 4). Carotid, brachial, and superficial femoral (SF) artery diameter and wall thickness were assessed using high-resolution ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Brachial diameters were significantly larger in UL and wheelchair users (athletes and controls) compared with C (both P < 0.05). SF artery diameter in wheelchair controls was significantly smaller compared with the other groups, with LL athletes having significantly greater lumen diameter than controls (both P < 0.05). In all arteries, a lower wall thickness was found in able-bodied athletes compared with C, including wheelchair athletes compared with wheelchair controls (P < 0.001). In the SF artery, wall-to-lumen-ratio was significantly lower in able-bodied athletes and higher in wheelchair controls compared with able-bodied controls (P < 0.001). In the brachial and carotid arteries, able-bodied and wheelchair athletes demonstrated lower wall-to-lumen-ratio than less active wheelchair controls and able-bodied controls (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that remodeling of the arterial wall occurs systemically in response to exercise training and is unrelated to exercise type in humans. Conversely, localized effects are evident with respect to the effect of exercise on arterial diameter. These findings have implications for our understanding of the effects of exercise on arterial structure and function in humans.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nicola Jayne
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Rowley
authors.forename: Ellen Adele
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: Maria T E
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Hopman
authors.forename: Keith P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Greg P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Whyte
authors.forename: Dick H J
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Thijssen
authors.forename: Daniel John
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D056352:Athletes; D001823:Body Composition; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014910:Wheelchairs