Pulse wave velocity and blood pressure in athletes performing endurance and intense resistance training

Abstract

Abstract Background There have been contradictory reports regarding the impact of intense resistance exercise on arterial stiffness. We examined the effects of long-term endurance training and intense resistance training on central hemodynamic in athletes compared with healthy sedentary controls. Purpose We hypothesized that young adults participating in endurance sports would have decreased arterial stiffness, whereas those participating in intense resistance sports would have increased arterial stiffness. Methods One hundred thirty participants (20–30 years) including 46 intense resistance trained athletes (IRTA) (weight-lifters), 42 endurance trained athletes (ETA) (long and mid-long distance runners) and 42 sedentary individuals (SED) were investigated by aplanation tonometry and pulse wave analysis; aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured. Differences were tested by analysis of variance, covariance and multiple linear regressions after adjustment for confounders. The t-test and chi-square test were used to compare the different parameters studied between men and women. The difference between the types of sport in the female subgroup was tested by the Kruskall Wallis test. Quantitative data were expressed as means ±standard deviation or median Results There were no differences among all 3 groups regarding age, height, glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Anthropometrics were higher in IRTA compared to ETA. Heart rates at rest and augmentation index were lower in trained participants than in sedentary individuals. Brachial and aortic blood pressures were lower in ETA compared to IRTA. Aortic PWV was significantly lower (p<0.05) in ETA (mean ±SD: 5.58±1.00 m/s) compared to IRTA (7.06±0.87 m/s) and SED (7.18±1.06 m/s). The results of the statistical analysis in female subjects in the different groups were comparable to those found in men. A subgroup analysis comparing women and men found comparable results for PWV, but women had higher HR at rest and lower brachial and central blood pressures compared to men. After multiple regression analysis, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) remained the only hemodynamic parameter correlated to PWV, whatever the group. Conclusion Aortic stiffness is influenced by exercise modalities since ETA had better PWV than IRTA in both sexes. DBP is an important determinant and potential mediator of arterial stiffening in young adults. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): No funding sources