The acute effect of maximal aerobic and isometric exercise on arterial stiffness parameters in boys and men

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate whether the acute effects of aerobic or isometric exercise on arterial stiffness parameters differ between boys and men. Methods: Fourteen boys (10 ± 2 years, BMI 17.8 ± 1.9 kg/m2) and nine men (26 ± 3 years, BMI 24.4 ± 3.3 kg/m2) completed maximal aerobic and isometric exercise testing. Blood pressure and arterial stiffness parameters [β-stiffness index, central pulse wave velocity (PWV)] were measured at rest, 5- and 20-min post-exercise. Results: Systolic blood pressure (SBP) increased at 5 min and returned to resting values at 20 min in both groups for aerobic exercise (time p < 0.01). Men had a greater increase in SBP at 5 min post-isometric exercise than boys (interaction p < 0.01). Diastolic blood pressure was not different between groups for either exercise mode. At 5 min, aerobic exercise induced increases in β-stiffness index with greater increases seen in men (interaction p < 0.01). Isometric exercise resulted in opposite β-stiffness index responses; men increased whereas boys decreased (interaction p < 0.05). Boys had lower baseline PWV than men at all time points (p < 0.01) and PWV significantly increased in men at 5 min post-aerobic exercise (p = 0.01); this interaction approached significance (p = 0.051). Conclusion: Boys show a differential arterial stiffness response following both aerobic and isometric exercise in comparison to men, which may be attributable to the seemingly quicker SBP recovery seen in boys.

Keywords

• Arterial stiffness
• Exercise
• Aerobic
• Isometric