title: A cross-sectional study of physical activity and arterial compliance: the effects of age and artery size.
abstract: Our study examined the relationship between habitual high levels of vigorous physical activity on large and small artery compliance via radial artery pulse wave analysis. Eighty-three healthy men (n = 44) and women (n = 39), aged 18-78 years, were recruited as habitually less active (light-to-moderate exercise ≤3 times/wk) or habitually highly active (vigorous exercise ≥5 times/wk). A multivariate analysis of variance revealed a significant interaction of age and activity level; habitual vigorous activity was associated with greater compliance in large and small arteries in older adults (40-78 years) and younger adults (18-22 years). In the large and small arteries, we observed an age-associated decrease in arterial compliance (aged ≥ 40 years), though it appears to be less pronounced in the large artery among habitually highly active subjects. This study suggests that aging may be associated with declines in large and small artery compliance that can be attenuated by habitual vigorous activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA; Department of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA; Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA. Electronic address: angholland@augusta.edu.
authors.forename: A Maleah
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Auburn Campus, Auburn, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Mattson
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Keith R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Lohse
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Finn
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Joel M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stager
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D003187:Compliance / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cardiovascular; exercise; pulse wave analysis; stiffness