Effects of a 12-Week Resistance Training Program on Arterial Stiffness: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Werner, TJ, Pellinger, TK, Rosette, VD, and Ortlip, AT. Effects of a 12-week resistance training program on arterial stiffness: a randomized controlled trial. J Strength Cond Res 35(12): 3281–3287, 2021—Arterial stiffness is an indicator of disease and is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events. Some reports indicate that resistance training increases indices of arterial stiffness, whereas others report no association. This study sought to determine the association between 2 common resistance training models and indices of arterial stiffness. We recruited 30 male, untrained subjects (18–30 years) and randomized them into 1 of 3 groups: control (CON, n = 10), high-intensity resistance exercise (HI, n = 10), and high-volume resistance exercise (HV, n = 10). Subjects randomized to the resistance training groups were required to perform whole-body strength training exercises 3–5 days a week for 12 weeks. The exercise regimen consisted of 2–3 sets of 3–8 repetitions (80–90% of 1 repetition maximum [1RM]) for the HI group and 3–4 sets of 10–15 repetitions (50–70% of 1RM) for the HV group. Anthropometry, carotid artery diameters, peripheral and central blood pressure, and maximal dynamic strength were measured before and after the 12-week study period. Subjects were instructed to maintain their normal diet and avoid aerobic exercise during the study. After the intervention, both the HI and HV groups increased their maximal strength on the back squat, bench press, and seated row (all p < 0.05). However, there were no changes in arterial stiffness indices between the groups. Using a randomized controlled trial with validated measurements of arterial stiffness, chronic resistance training does not appear to influence central arterial stiffness, regardless of training volume and load.

Habitual Combined Exercise Protects against Age-Associated Decline in Vascular Function and Lipid Profiles in Elderly Postmenopausal Women

“…Different modes of aerobic exercise training alone for 8-12 weeks (swimming, stair climbing, and all-extremity ergometry) have been shown to significantly decrease arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women and older adults [24][25][26], whereas high-intensity interval training and resistance training for 8-12 weeks showed no differences in arterial stiffness in similar populations [26,27]. Furthermore, CRAE training for 12 weeks has been shown to reduce arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women [13,28].…”

Effects of 6-Week Traditional and Functional Resistance Training on Arterial Stiffness and Muscular Strength in Healthy Young Men

“… Cortez-Cooper et al (2005) also reported that arterial stiffness and wave reflection increased following 11-week high-intensity resistance training (12 exercise, up to 6 sets per session) in young women. By contrast, Werner et al ( Werner et al, 2019 ) observed that the arterial stiffness indices exhibited no changes following 12 weeks of high-intensity and high-volume resistance training (9 exercise, 2–3 sets, and 3–4 sets, respectively) in young men. The findings of this study are in agreement with the results of Au et al (2017) , who found a decrease in central arterial stiffness following 12 weeks of total body resistance training with different loads (heavier, 75–90% 1RM; 5 exercise, 3 sets vs. lighter, 30–50% 1RM, 5 exercise 3 sets) in health young men.…”

“…Evidence also suggests that resistance training may not have any unfavorable effect on arterial stiffness in middle-aged adults ( Cortez-Cooper et al, 2008 ; Yoshizawa et al, 2009 ). Moreover, a meta-analysis ( Ceciliato et al, 2020 ) and two randomized control trials ( Casey et al, 2007 ; Werner et al, 2019 ) have reported that long-term resistance training (average threee times per week) causes no changes in arterial stiffness among healthy young individuals (average age, 29). Although TRT is effective in improving skeletal muscle mass and function and reversing osteoporosis ( Pollock et al, 2000 ), further studies are warranted to ascertain its effect on arterial stiffness.…”

Low-to-Moderate-Intensity Resistance Exercise Effectively Improves Arterial Stiffness in Adults: Evidence From Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression Analysis

“…The included trials in this systematic review and meta-analysis ( n = 20) were intercontinental, published between 2005 and 2020. A majority of the articles ( n = 9) were conducted in Japan ( 17 , 19 , 23 , 35 – 38 , 40 ), followed by the U.S. ( n = 7) ( 20 – 22 , 29 , 31 , 33 , 39 ) and each one from Canada ( 18 ), Brazil ( 30 ), England ( 32 ), and New Zealand ( 34 ). Of these, five studies recruited only male participants, seven studies recruited only females, and eight studies recruited a combination of both males and females.…”