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Effect of Resistance Training on Arterial Stiffness in Healthy Subjects: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

  • Guidelines/Clinical Trials/Meta-Analysis (WJ Kostis, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the effect of resistance training on arterial stiffness (AS) in healthy subjects. Two electronic databases (PubMed and Scielo) were searched for randomized controlled trials comparing the effect of dynamic and/or isometric resistance training stand-alone versus non-exercise control group on AS assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV) in healthy subjects. Random-effects modeling was employed to compare delta changes (post–pre-intervention) in AS between the resistance training and control group. Data were reported as weighted mean difference (MD) and its 95% confidence intervals (CI). Statistical significance was set at 5%.

Recent Findings

A total of 10 studies involving 310 participants (46.5% female; resistance training groups, n = 194; control groups, n = 116) were included in the meta-analysis. Comparing changes from pre- to post-resistance training groups versus control groups, no differences were observed in PWV (MD − 1.33 cm/s (95% CI − 34.58 to 31.91), p = 0.94, I2 = 91%).

Summary

Resistance training stand-alone does not elicit changes (i.e., improvement or impairment) on AS in healthy subjects, but the high heterogeneity suggests influence of training protocol and/or personal characteristics that should be investigated in the future.

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Data Availability

Data are available in the supplementary materials.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo and also to all researchers who provided results making this study possible.

Funding

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP 2018/05226-0).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo, Rua Arlindo Béttio, 1000, Vila Guaraciaba, São Paulo, 03828-000, Brazil

    Júlio Ceciliato & Leandro C. Brito

  2. Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

    Eduardo C. Costa

  3. School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Mello Moraes, 65, São Paulo, 05508-030, Brazil

    Luan Azevêdo, Júlio C Sousa, Rafael Y. Fecchio & Leandro C. Brito

Authors
  1. Júlio Ceciliato
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  2. Eduardo C. Costa
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  3. Luan Azevêdo
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  4. Júlio C Sousa
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  5. Rafael Y. Fecchio
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  6. Leandro C. Brito
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Contributions

J.C. and L.B. contributed to the study conception; J.C and L.A did the search of literature; E.C. contributed to the statistical analysis; J.C., E.C., and L.B. contributed to interpretation of data. All authors contributed to the critical revision of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leandro C. Brito.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Appendix

Appendix

Forest plot of the between-group comparison of the resistance training versus control group on absolute values of arterial stiffness assessed by the pulse wave velocity.

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Ceciliato, J., Costa, E.C., Azevêdo, L. et al. Effect of Resistance Training on Arterial Stiffness in Healthy Subjects: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Curr Hypertens Rep 22, 51 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-020-01065-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-020-01065-x

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