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Acute effects of moderate-intensity continuous and accumulated exercise on arterial stiffness in healthy young men

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Abstract

Purpose

To examine and compare the effects of acute moderate-intensity continuous and accumulated exercise with different intervals on arterial stiffness in humans.

Methods

Healthy young men (n = 16) participated in four trials in a randomized crossover design: complete rest control (CON), continuous exercise (CE, 30-min cycling), accumulated exercise with 20 min of interval (AE20, 2 × 15-min cycling) and accumulated exercise with 60 min of interval (AE60, 2 × 15-min cycling). Exercise was performed at intensity of 50 % heart rate reserve. Measurements of cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), an indicator of systemic arterial stiffness in humans, were performed at baseline (BL), immediately (0 min) and 60 min after exercise in exercise trials, and at corresponding time points in CON trial.

Results

CAVI remained unaltered throughout the procedure in CON trial (6.8 ± 0.1, 6.9 ± 0.1, 6.9 ± 0.2 at BL, 0 and 60 min, respectively). Similar CAVI reductions were observed in CE, AE20 and AE60 trials at 0 min compared to CON trial (P < 0.001 for CE, AE20 and AE60 vs. CON, respectively). Though CAVI in CE and AE60 trial returned to baseline at 60 min, the CAVI reduction at 60 min persisted in AE20 trial (P < 0.05 for AE20 vs. CON).

Conclusion

Compared to continuous exercise, accumulated exercise with appropriate short interval results in superior effects on systemic arterial stiffness in healthy young men, with arterial stiffness reduction for longer duration. When the interval is long, the acute superior effects of accumulated exercise on arterial stiffness disappeared.

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Abbreviations

AE:

Accumulated exercise

baPWV:

Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity

BL:

Baseline

BMI:

Body mass index

BP:

Blood pressure

CAVI:

Cardio-ankle vascular index

CE:

Continuous exercise

CON:

Control

DIA:

Diastolic blood pressure

HIT:

High-intensity interval training

HRR:

Heart rate reserve

LB:

Left brachial

RB:

Right brachial

SYS:

Systolic blood pressure

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (31371206) and Science and Technology Development Program of Beijing Municipal Commission of Education (KM201310029003).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiovascular Health Laboratory, Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, 11 Bei San Huan Xi Road, Beijing, 100191, China

    Lu Zheng, Xin Zhang, Weili Zhu, Xiaohong Chen, Hao Wu & Shoufu Yan

  2. Beijing Sport University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Xin Zhang

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  1. Lu Zheng
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  2. Xin Zhang
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  3. Weili Zhu
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  4. Xiaohong Chen
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  5. Hao Wu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Weili Zhu.

Additional information

Communicated by Massimo Pagani.

L. Zheng and X. Zhang have contributed equally to this work.

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Zheng, L., Zhang, X., Zhu, W. et al. Acute effects of moderate-intensity continuous and accumulated exercise on arterial stiffness in healthy young men. Eur J Appl Physiol 115, 177–185 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-3008-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-3008-5

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