Comparing arterial stiffness across different training modalities in healthy young males

BACKGROUND: Physical exercise is known to modulate arterial stiffness. However, this modulation can vary according to the type of exercise or training. This study aims to compare levels of arterial stiffness among healthy young men practicing different exercise modalities, including resistance training (RT), high-intensity cross-training (HICT), and running (RUN), and comparing these results with a control group. METHODS: Eighty healthy young men were divided into three exercise groups according to the type of exercise they practiced (RT, N.=20; HICT, N.=20; RUN, N.=20), plus a sedentary control group (CON, N.=20). In this observational study, participants were evaluated for arterial stiffness with carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (c-f PWV, m/s) and pulse wave analyses (Augmentation Index [Aix] and Augmentation Index normalized to a heart rate of 75 bpm [AIx@75bpm]). Participants were also assessed for cardiorespiratory fitness (VO<inf>2</inf>max, mL/kg/min) by means of maximal graded exercise testing. RESULTS: Despite the absence of statistical significance (P>0.05), the CON group showed less favorable arterial stiffness indices (AIx: 1.85±2.99; AIx@75bpm: -7.41±3.00) compared to all exercise groups ([RT AIx: -5.68±2.29; AIx@75bpm: -13.98±2.41]; [HICT AIx: -1.36±2.20; AIx@75bpm: -10.26±2.16]; [RUN AIx: -2.29±3.09; AIx@75bpm: -7.14±3.09]). The RUN group showed significantly higher VO<inf>2</inf>max than the other groups (RUN vs. CON, P<0.001; RUN vs. RT, P<0.001; and RUN vs. HICT, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that arterial stiffness does not differ according to different exercise modalities practiced by healthy young men.