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Objective: Aging is associated with progressive decreases in arterial health as well as muscular strength and cardiorespiratory capacity. It is crucial to prevent or reduce the negative effects of aging on vasculature, muscular, and cardiorespiratory function by implementing appropriate lifestyle interventions, such as exercise training. We examined the effects of a swimming (SWM) regimen on arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity [PWV]), blood pressure (BP), wave reflection (augmentation index [AIx]), muscle strength, and aerobic capacity in sedentary, postmenopausal women with stage 2 hypertension. Methods: One hundred participants (∼74 years of age) were recruited from multiple general practice centers. Using a parallel experimental design, participants were randomly assigned to either SWM (n = 52) or nonexercising control group (n = 48) for 20 weeks. Participants in the SWM group trained 3 to 4 days/week. Participants’ carotid to radial PWV, BP, AIx, muscular strength, and cardiorespiratory capacity were measured at baseline and after 20 weeks of their assigned intervention. Results: There was a significant group × time interaction (P < 0.05) for carotid to radial PWV (Δ−1.2 m/s), AIx (Δ−4%), and systolic (Δ−9 mm Hg) and diastolic BP (Δ − 9 mm Hg), which significantly decreased (P < 0.05); and strength (Δ3 kg) and cardiorespiratory capacity (Δ4 mL/kg/min), which significantly increased (P < 0.05) following SWM compared to no changes in control. Conclusions: SWM led to reductions in arterial stiffness, wave reflection, and BP while increasing strength and aerobic capacity in postmenopausal women with stage 2 hypertension. SWM may be an effective intervention in the prevention and treatment of age-related vascular complications and declines in muscle strength and cardiorespiratory capacity.

Objective: Menopause is often accompanied by an age-associated hormonal decline, increased blood pressure (BP), and poor body composition, which may collectively increase risks for cardiovascular disease. It is important to combat the negative effects on age-associated hormonal decline, BP, and body composition by incorporating appropriate lifestyle interventions, such as exercise. We sought to examine the effects of a 12-week resistance band exercise training program on aging-related hormones including estradiol, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), BP, and body composition in postmenopausal women with stage 1 hypertension. Methods: Postmenopausal women with stage 1 hypertension (n = 20) were recruited and randomly assigned to a 12-week resistance band exercise training group (EX, n = 10) or control group (CON, n = 10). The EX group performed a total-body resistance band exercise training program. Levels of estradiol, GH, IGF-1, DHEA-S, as well as BP and body composition were assessed before and after 12 weeks. Results: There were significant group by time interactions (P < 0.05) for estradiol, GH, IGF-1, DHEA-S, and lean body mass, which significantly increased (P < 0.05), and systolic BP, total body mass, body mass index, and body fat percentage, which significantly decreased (P < 0.05) after EX compared to no changes in CON. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in diastolic BP after 12 weeks. Conclusions: These results indicate that 12 weeks of resistance band exercise may be an effective, easily accessible, and cost-efficient intervention for improving age-associated hormonal decline, high BP, and poor body composition in postmenopausal women with stage 1 hypertension. Video Summary: http://links.lww.com/MENO/A494.

BackgroundChildhood obesity is strongly associated with the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Exercise interventions have been used for obese children and adolescents to prevent the manifestation of CVD risks, such as hypertension and insulin resistance (IR). Additionally, obesity has been shown to be linked to low self-efficacy in adolescents, which has been shown to negatively impact academic performance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 12-week jump rope exercise program on body composition, CVD risk factors, and academic self-efficacy (ASE) in obese adolescent girls with prehypertension.MethodsAdolescent girls with prehypertension and obesity (n = 48, age 14–16 years) were randomly assigned to either the jump rope exercise group (EX, n = 24) or the control group (CON, n = 24). Body composition, blood pressure (BP), blood glucose, insulin levels, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (marker of IR), and ASE were assessed before and after 12 weeks of exercise training or control.ResultsThere were significant group × time interactions following the 12-week exercise program for body fat percent, waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), blood glucose, insulin levels, and HOMA-IR, which were all significantly reduced (p < 0.05). A significant improvement (p <0.05) was observed in task difficulty preference (TDP) and self-regulatory efficacy (SRE) following exercise training. Additionally, ASE was strongly correlated (r = −0.58) with body composition.ConclusionsThis study provides evidence that jump rope exercise intervention can be a useful therapeutic treatment to improve CVD risk factors and ASE in obese adolescent girls with prehypertension.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is an atherosclerotic disease that is associated with attenuated vascular function, cardiorespiratory capacity, physical function, and muscular strength. It is essential to combat these negative effects on health by incorporating lifestyle interventions to slow disease progression, such as exercise. We sought to examine the effects of aquatic walking exercise on cardiovascular function, cardiorespiratory capacity [maximal volume of oxygen consumption (V̇o2max)], exercise tolerance [6-min walking distance (6MWD)], physical function, muscular strength, and body composition in patients with PAD. Patients with PAD ( n = 72) were recruited and randomly assigned to a 12-wk aquatic walking training group (AQ, n = 35) or a control group (CON, n = 37). The AQ group performed walking and leg exercises in waist-to-chest-deep water. Leg arterial stiffness [femoral-to-ankle pulse wave velocity (legPWV)], heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), ankle-to-brachial index (ABI), V̇o2max, 6MWD, physical function, muscular strength, body composition, resting metabolic rate (RMR), and flexibility were measured before and after 12 wk. There were significant group × time interactions ( P < 0.05) after 12 wk for legPWV and HR, which significantly decreased ( P < 0.05) in AQ, and V̇o2max, 6MWD, physical function, and muscular strength, which significantly increased ( P < 0.05) in AQ, compared with no changes in CON. There were no significant differences ( P > 0.05) for BP, ABI, RMR, or flexibility after 12 wk. Interestingly, there was relatively high adherence (84%) to the aquatic walking exercise program in this population. These results suggest that aquatic walking exercise is an effective therapy to reduce arterial stiffness and resting HR and improve cardiorespiratory capacity, exercise tolerance, physical function, and muscular strength in patients with PAD.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The results of this study reveal for the first time that aquatic walking exercise can decrease arterial stiffness and improve exercise tolerance, cardiorespiratory capacity, and muscular strength in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Aquatic walking exercise training demonstrates relatively high exercise adherence in this population. Aquatic walking exercise training may be a useful therapeutic intervention for improving physical function in patients with PAD.