Aging, Habitual Exercise, and Dynamic Arterial Compliance

Abstract

Regular aerobic-endurance exercise attenuates age-related reductions in central arterial compliance and restores levels in previously sedentary healthy middle-aged and older men. This may be one mechanism by which habitual exercise lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease in this population.

The effects of functional electrical stimulation leg cycle ergometry training on arterial compliance in individuals with spinal cord injury

“…Since biochemical changes in the actual composition of the arterial wall are believed to occur over a period of years, 16 the changes in arterial compliance observed following close to 4 months of training in this study likely occurred through other means. One possibility is that increased pulse pressure and mechanical distension during exercise sessions stretched collagen fibers and modified their cross-linking, resulting in increased arterial compliance.…”

“…One possibility is that increased pulse pressure and mechanical distension during exercise sessions stretched collagen fibers and modified their cross-linking, resulting in increased arterial compliance. 16 Arterial compliance can also be altered via modulation of sympathetic-adrenergic tone of smooth muscle cells in the arterial wall that has been shown to be preserved below the lesion level in individuals with SCI. 17 It is possible that FES-LCE exercise improved arterial compliance by reducing the chronic suppressive influence of the sympathetic-adrenergic tone either directly or by improving the sympathoinhibitory effect of nitric oxide (NO), an important marker of endothelial health.…”

Age and cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with arterial stiffening and left ventricular remodelling

“…10 Previous studies have indicated that age-related increases in arterial stiffness were attenuated in higher-fit adults. 11,12 Moreover, arterial stiffness and BP were negatively associated with cardiorespiratory fitness. 13 When considering the pathophysiological implications of vascular stiffening, it is also important not to overlook changes in the heart to which the blood vessels are coupled.…”

Physical Activity Correlates with Arterial Stiffness in Community-dwelling Individuals with Stroke

“…Indeed, it has been previously shown that the greatest improvements in cardiovascular health outcomes were observed among individuals with the most compromised fitness levels, including a reduced risk for cardiovascular-related mortality 41 and cardiovascular disease 42 and lowered arterial stiffness. 43 While physical inactivity is a known risk factor for atherosclerosis, only a few crosssectional studies have reported the inverse relationship between arterial stiffness and measures of physical activity or physical fitness, [44][45][46] and none focused on individuals with stroke. Augmented physical activity has the potential to improve arterial stiffness, even in the presence of aging.…”

“…Augmented physical activity has the potential to improve arterial stiffness, even in the presence of aging. Tanaka et al 43 found that sedentary and recreationally active men had lower central arterial compliance compared to endurance-trained men regardless of age group, suggesting that age-associated increases in arterial stiffness may be mitigated with regular aerobic exercise. Exercise training has also been shown to improve arterial stiffness among individuals with coronary artery disease, 47 older adults with multiple risk factors, 48 and those undergoing hemodialysis.…”