Mind-body interventions were the most effective exercise modality to reduce arterial stiffness measured by pulse wave velocity (ES 0.86; 95% CI 0.04-1.69), followed by combined and aerobic exercise.
Meta-Analysis (n=1,758)
Do different types of physical exercise improve arterial stiffness as measured by pulse wave velocity in adults?
Mind-body, combined, aerobic, and interval training exercises effectively reduce arterial stiffness in adults, with mind-body interventions showing the greatest effect.
Effect estimate: ES 0.86 (95% CI 0.04-1.69)
AIMS: Physical exercise has been associated with a reduction in arterial stiffness, a subclinical process underlying cardiovascular disease. However, the effect of different types of exercise (aerobic, resistance, combined, interval training, stretching, or mind-body modalities) on arterial stiffness is unclear. This network meta-analysis aimed to examine the effectiveness of different types of exercise on arterial stiffness as measured by pulse wave velocity in adults. METHODS AND RESULTS: We searched Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, MEDLINE (via Pubmed), Embase, and Web of Science databases, for randomized clinical trials including at least a comparison group, from their inception to 30 June 2020. A frequentist network meta-analysis was performed to compare the effect of different types of physical exercise on arterial stiffness as measured by pulse wave velocity. Finally, 35 studies, with a total of 1125 participants for exercise intervention and 633 participants for the control group, were included. In the pairwise meta-analyses, the exercises that improved arterial stiffness were: interval training effect size (ES) 0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01-0.73, aerobic exercise (ES 0.30; 95% CI 0.13-0.48) and combined exercise (ES 0.22; 95% CI 0.04-0.40). Furthermore, the network meta-analysis showed that mind-body interventions were the most effective type of exercise to reduce the pulse wave velocity (ES 0.86; 95% CI 0.04-1.69). In addition, combined exercise (ES 0.35; 95% CI 0.08-0.62), aerobic exercise (ES 0.33; 95% CI 0.09-0.57), and interval training (ES 0.33; 95% CI 0.02-0.64) showed significant improvements. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that aerobic exercise, combined exercise, interval training, and mind-body exercises were the most effective exercise modalities for reducing arterial stiffness, assuming an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
Saz‐Lara et al. (Wed,) conducted a meta-analysis in Arterial stiffness (n=1,758). Physical exercise (aerobic, resistance, combined, interval training, stretching, or mind-body) vs. Control group was evaluated on Arterial stiffness as measured by pulse wave velocity (ES 0.86, 95% CI 0.04-1.69). Mind-body interventions were the most effective exercise modality to reduce arterial stiffness measured by pulse wave velocity (ES 0.86; 95% CI 0.04-1.69), followed by combined and aerobic exercise.
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