Combined aerobic and resistance training and vascular function: effect of aerobic exercise before and after resistance training

Aerobic exercise training combined with resistance training (RT) might prevent the deterioration of vascular function. However, how aerobic exercise performed before or after a bout of RT affects vascular function is unknown. The present study investigates the effect of aerobic exercise before and after RT on vascular function. Thirty-three young, healthy subjects were randomly assigned to groups that ran before RT (BRT: 4 male, 7 female), ran after RT (ART: 4 male, 7 female), or remained sedentary (SED: 3 male, 8 female). The BRT and ART groups performed RT at 80% of one repetition maximum and ran at 60% of the targeted heart rate twice each week for 8 wk. Both brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) after combined training in the BRT group did not change from baseline. In contrast, baPWV after combined training in the ART group reduced from baseline (from 1,025 +/- 43 to 910 +/- 33 cm/s, P < 0.01). Moreover, brachial artery FMD after combined training in the ART group increased from baseline (from 7.3 +/- 0.8 to 9.6 +/- 0.8%, P < 0.01). Brachial artery diameter, mean blood velocity, and blood flow in the BRT and ART groups after combined training increased from baseline (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.001, respectively). These values returned to the baseline during the detraining period. These values did not change in the SED group. These results suggest that although vascular function is not improved by aerobic exercise before RT, performing aerobic exercise thereafter can prevent the deteriorating of vascular function.