Influence of the order of aerobic and resistance exercise on hemodynamic responses and arterial stiffness in young normotensive individuals

Abstract

AimsTo investigate the effects of a combination of aerobic and resistance exercises and the inverse sequence on the hemodynamic parameters and indicators of arterial stiffness in healthy young adult subjects. MethodsFifteen subjects were randomized in a crossover procedure according to two experimental conditions: combined aerobic exercise (30 min of treadmill running, 75–80% – peak VO2) followed by resistance exercise (5 exercises, 3 sets – 10 RM) (AR) or vice versa (RA). Data of the hemodynamic parameters and arterial stiffness were obtained at baseline and after exercise (post-10, post-20, and post-30 min). Two-way ANOVA for repeated measurements was performed with the Newman–Keuls post-hoc. The significance level adopted was p < 0.05. ResultsThe results of the two-way ANOVA for repeated measures were not statistically significant for brachial and central systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively, or arterial stiffness indicators: reflected wave indicators and pulse wave velocity (P > 0.05). Statistically significant interactions were observed before and after the exercise sessions for heart rate and rate pressure product (P = < 0.001). ConclusionThe performance order of aerobic exercise followed by resistance exercise (AR) and the reverse order (RA) present similar changes in blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness. However, resistance exercise before aerobic exercise promotes increases in heart rate and rate product pressure.