Vasodilatory Capacity and Arterial Compliance After Acute Resistance vs. Aerobic Exercise

Abstract

Arterial compliance (AC) decreases after acute resistance exercise (RE) but increases after aerobic exercise (AE). However, changes in vasodilatory capacity comparing acute aerobic vs. resistance exercise are not known and it is not known if changes in AC and vasodilatory capacity are related. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the vasodilatory and AC responses to acute AE and RE. METHODS: Reactive hyperemia was used to assess vasodilatory capacity prior to, and 60 minutes after exercise while arterial compliance was assessed prior to, and at 40 and 60 minutes following an acute bout of AE (30-min leg ergometry at 65% of VO2peak) and RE (3 sets, 10 reps; upper and lower body regimen at 65% 1 RM) in 8 male subjects (25.2 ±1.0 yrs, 175 ± 1.6 cm, 77 ± 2.7 kg). Whole body arterial compliance was derived using a Finometer (CWK, mL/mmHg) and vasodilatory capacity was assessed using strain gauge plethysmography. Area under the curve was employed to determine differences in vasodilatory capacity, and AC whole body compliance data were analyzed using an ANO VA with repeated measures. RESULTS: A mode-by-time interaction (p <0.05) was found for arterial compliance, due to an increase following AE (2.51±0.102 to 2.63±0.095 to 2.52±0.112 ml/mmHg) and a decrease in compliance following RE (2.81±0.099 to 2.66±0.112 and 2.64±0.079 ml/mmHg) from pre, 40 and 60 minutes post exercise respectively. RH was found to significantly increase (p <0.001) after both AE (66.31±16.02 to 80.77±16.04) and RE (71.54±17.53 to 87.39±17.97), but there was no difference in the response between modes. CONCLUSIONS: Acute AE vs. RE show similar increases in vasodilatory capacity but different changes in whole body arterial compliance. This suggests that changes in whole body arterial compliance are not associated with the vasodilatory response.