High-intensity interval exercise increased brachial artery flow-mediated dilation post-exercise compared to moderate-intensity exercise and control, but did not alter cerebrovascular reactivity.
RCT (n=10)
Single-blind
Randomized crossover
No
Does high-intensity interval exercise acutely improve peripheral and cerebrovascular reactivity compared to moderate-intensity exercise or rest in healthy adults?
High-intensity interval exercise acutely improves peripheral endothelial function but does not alter cerebrovascular reactivity in healthy young adults.
Effect estimate: d 1.01
p-value: p=<0.001
This is the first study to identify that acute improvements in peripheral vascular function following high-intensity interval exercise are not mirrored by improvements in cerebrovascular reactivity in healthy young adults. High-intensity interval exercise completed at both 75% and 90% V̇o 2max increased brachial artery flow-mediated dilation 1 and 3 h following exercise, compared with continuous moderate-intensity exercise and a sedentary control condition. By contrast, cerebrovascular reactivity was unchanged following all four conditions.
Weston et al. (Thu,) conducted a rct in Healthy adults (n=10). High-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) vs. Continuous moderate-intensity exercise (60% VO2max) and sedentary control was evaluated on Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) 1 hour post-exercise (d 1.01, p=<0.001). High-intensity interval exercise increased brachial artery flow-mediated dilation post-exercise compared to moderate-intensity exercise and control, but did not alter cerebrovascular reactivity.