European Journal of Applied Physiology

, Volume 116, Issue 1, pp 39–48 | Cite as

Effects of age on arterial stiffness and central blood pressure after an acute bout of resistance exercise

  • Robert S. Thiebaud
  • Christopher A. Fahs
  • Lindy M. Rossow
  • Jeremy P. Loenneke
  • Daeyeol Kim
  • J. Grant Mouser
  • Travis W. Beck
  • Debra A. Bemben
  • Rebecca D. Larson
  • Michael G. Bemben
Original Article
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Aging Arterial compliance Augmentation index Pulse wave velocity 

Abbreviations

ANOVA

Analysis of variance

AP_75

Augmented pressure adjusted for a heart rate of 75 bpm

AIx_75

Augmentation index adjusted for a heart rate of 75 bpm

BMI

Body mass index

bDBP

Brachial Diastolic blood pressure

bSBP

Brachial Systolic blood pressure

cDBP

Central Diastolic blood pressure

cSBP

Central Systolic blood pressure

cPWV

Central pulse wave velocity

CON

Control condition

ECG

Electrocardiogram

EX

Exercise condition

MG

Middle-aged group

1-RM

One-repetition maximum

OG

Old-aged group

pPWV

Peripheral pulse wave velocity

YG

Young-aged group

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Notes

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the University of Oklahoma for the Robberson Travel and Research Grant and all of the individuals who took the time to participate in the study.

Compliance with the ethical standards

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  • Robert S. Thiebaud
    • 1
  • Christopher A. Fahs
    • 2
  • Lindy M. Rossow
    • 2
  • Jeremy P. Loenneke
    • 3
  • Daeyeol Kim
    • 4
  • J. Grant Mouser
    • 4
  • Travis W. Beck
    • 4
  • Debra A. Bemben
    • 4
  • Rebecca D. Larson
    • 4
  • Michael G. Bemben
    • 4
  1. 1.Texas Wesleyan UniversityFort WorthUSA
  2. 2.Lindenwood University-BellevilleBellevilleUSA
  3. 3.University of MississippiUniversityUSA
  4. 4.University of OklahomaNormanUSA

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