Published in:
01-01-2016 | Original Article
Effects of age on arterial stiffness and central blood pressure after an acute bout of resistance exercise
Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 1/2016
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Purpose
To investigate the influence of age on arterial stiffness and blood pressure after performing a resistance exercise bout.
Methods
Recreationally active men were separated into young (YG, n = 12, 26.5 ± 3.3 years), middle (MG, n = 14, 49.4 ± 5.7 years), and old (OG, n = 10, 67.4 ± 6.3 years)-aged groups. In a randomized cross-over design, participants performed control and exercise conditions with at least 3 days separating conditions. The exercise condition consisted of leg press, chest press, knee flexion, lat pulldown and knee extension at ~65 % one-repetition maximum for three sets of 10 repetitions. Brachial and central blood pressures, augmented pressure, augmentation index, central and peripheral pulse wave velocities were measured prior to each condition and starting at 5 min post-exercise.
Results
Brachial systolic blood pressure (SBP) significantly increased similarly after exercise for all age groups (YG, 8 ± 8 mmHg; MG, 5 ± 5 mmHg; OG, 5 ± 6 mmHg; p < 0.05). However, central SBP did not significantly increase for any age group after exercise. Augmentation index significantly increased after exercise only in the YG (11 ± 8 %, p < 0.05). Central pulse wave velocity did not significantly increase in any age group after exercise when compared to the control condition.
Conclusions
When performing a whole body moderate resistance exercise bout, acute changes in arterial stiffness and blood pressure appear to be minimally affected by age.