September 1, 2001
View Full PaperSmaller age-associated reductions in leg venous compliance in endurance exercise-trained men
Key Result
Habitual endurance exercise was associated with better preserved calf venous compliance, which was 70-120% greater in endurance-trained compared with age-matched sedentary men (P<0.01).
Study Design
Type
Observational (n=32)
Structured PICO
Does habitual endurance exercise improve calf venous compliance in young and older men?
P
Population
32 young and older men, categorized as either sedentary or endurance-trained, evaluated for calf venous compliance.
E
Exposure
Habitual endurance exercise
C
Comparator
Sedentary lifestyle
O
Outcome
Calf venous compliancesurrogate
Habitual endurance exercise is associated with better preserved calf venous compliance in older men, mitigating age-related reductions.
Main Result
p-value: p=< 0.01
Abstract
We determined the independent and interactive influences of aging and habitual endurance exercise on calf venous compliance in humans. We tested the hypotheses that calf venous compliance is 1) reduced with age in sedentary and endurance-trained men, and 2) elevated in young and older endurance-trained compared with age-matched sedentary men. We studied 8 young (28 +/- 1 yr) and 8 older (65 +/- 1) sedentary, and 8 young (27 +/- 1) and 8 older (63 +/- 2) endurance-trained men. Calf venous compliance was measured in supine subjects by inflating a venous collecting cuff, placed above the knee, to 60 mmHg for 8 min and then decreasing cuff pressure at 1 mmHg/s to 0 mmHg. Calf venous compliance was determined using the first derivative of the pressure-volume relation during cuff pressure reduction (compliance = beta(1) + 2. beta(2). cuff pressure). Calf venous compliance was reduced with age in sedentary (approximately 40%) and endurance-trained men (approximately 20%) (both P < 0.01). Furthermore, calf venous compliance was approximately 70-120% greater in endurance-trained compared with age-matched sedentary men and approximately 30% greater in older endurance-trained compared with young sedentary men (both P < 0.01). These data indicate that calf venous compliance is reduced with age in sedentary and endurance-trained men, but compliance is better preserved in endurance-trained men.