Arterial elastic property in young endurance and resistance-trained women

Abstract

In men, regular aerobic exercise increases central arterial elasticity, but it is decreased by resistance training. We determined the relation between the type of exercise training and arterial elasticity in healthy young women: 26 healthy young women who were sedentary (CO, n = 9), endurance-trained (ET, n = 9), and resistance-trained (RT, n = 8) groups. We determined the carotid arterial compliance and distensibility coefficient (simultaneous ultrasound and applanation tonometry), VO(2max), and 1RM (bench press and leg extension). The VO(2max) in the ET groups was higher than in the CO and RT groups. Both 1RM were higher in the RT groups than in the CO and ET groups. No significant difference was found in the carotid artery compliance and distensibility coefficient among the ET, RT, and CO groups. These results underscore the difficulty in detecting a change in arterial elasticity in young female athletes using the type of exercise training by which it is shown in young men.