Endothelial function improved in conditioned weight lifters (to 8.8%; P=0.007) and runners (to 7.6%; P<0.001) but decreased in sedentary subjects (to 5.7%; P=0.019) after acute exertional hypertension.
Observational
Does chronic resistance or aerobic exercise conditioning prevent acute endothelial impairment induced by a single weight lifting session in healthy subjects?
Chronic resistance and aerobic exercise conditioning protects against acute endothelial dysfunction induced by exertional hypertension during weight lifting.
Resistance and aerobic exercise is recommended for cardiovascular health and disease prevention. However, the accompanying increase in arterial pressure during resistance exercise may be detrimental to vascular health. This study tests the vascular benefits of aerobic compared with resistance exercise on preventing impaired vascular function induced by a single weight lifting session that is associated with acute hypertension. Healthy, lean sedentary (SED) subjects, weight lifters, runners (>15 miles/wk), and cross trainers (chronic aerobic and resistance exercisers), underwent a single progressive leg press weight lifting session with blood pressure measurements. Brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD; an index of arterial endothelial function) was determined using ultrasonography immediately before and after weight lifting. Sublingual nitroglycerin (0.4 mg) was used to determine endothelium-independent dilation after weight lifting. All subjects were normotensive with similar blood pressure responses during exercise. Baseline FMD was lower in runners (5.4 ± 0.5%; n = 13) and cross trainers (4.44 ± 0.3%; n = 13) vs. SED (8.5 ± 0.8%; n = 13; P = 0.037). Brachial FMD improved in conditioned weight lifters (to 8.8 ± 0.9%; P = 0.007) and runners (to 7.6 ± 0.6%; P < 0.001) but not cross trainers (to 5.3 ± 0.6%; P = NS) after acute hypertension. FMD was decreased in SED (to 5.7 ± 0.4%; P = 0.019). Dilation to nitroglycerin was similar among groups. These data suggest that endothelial responses are maintained after exposure to a single bout of weight lifting in resistance and aerobic athletes. Resistance and aerobic exercise may confer similar protection against acute vascular insults such as exertional hypertension.
Phillips et al. (Fri,) conducted a observational in Healthy. Chronic exercise training (weight lifting, running, or cross training) vs. Sedentary lifestyle was evaluated on Brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) after weight lifting. Endothelial function improved in conditioned weight lifters (to 8.8%; P=0.007) and runners (to 7.6%; P<0.001) but decreased in sedentary subjects (to 5.7%; P=0.019) after acute exertional hypertension.