Comparing the effect of moderate intensity exercise on arterial stiffness in resistance trained athletes, endurance trained athletes and sedentary controls: A cross-sectional observational study

Abstract Background Arterial stiffness is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. There has been no previous research comparing the acute changes to arterial stiffness following aerobic exercise in different groups of athletes. The aim of this study was to compare the acute effect of aerobic exercise on arterial stiffness in resistance-trained (RT) athletes, endurance-trained (ET) athletes and sedentary controls. Methods Central and peripheral pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured before and at 3, 15 and 30 min intervals post-exercise in RT athletes ( n  = 18), ET athletes ( n  = 19) and sedentary controls ( n  = 15). PWV was measured using Doppler flow velocimeters and derived from the ‘foot-to-foot’ transit times. Blood pressure and heart rate recordings preceded all PWV measurements. Results Resting PWV did not differ significantly between groups. In the endurance and control group, central PWV increased at 3 min post-exercise (from 7.7 ± 2.2 to 10.6 ± 4.2 m/s; P  = 0.02 and from 7.4 ± 2.2 to 9.1 ± 3.1 m/s; P  = 0.01 respectively), followed by a decline to baseline within 15 min of exercise cessation. Central PWV fell at 30 min post-exercise ( P  = 0.08) in the resistance group, although this was a non-significant reduction. Peripheral PWV did not change significantly from respective baseline values in any group. Conclusion The ET and control group exhibited differences in their central arterial response to exercise compared to the RT group, although peripheral arterial response was similar between the groups. Higher intensity and/or prolonged exercise is likely to be required for more pronounced differences.