Leg Cycle Training Decreases Upper Limb Arterial Stiffness in Elderly Women

Abstract

Large arteries (central arteries such as aortas) and medium-sized arteries (peripheral arteries such as upper limb arteries) provide buffer function to level off fl uctuations in blood pressure and blood fl ow. When upper limb arterial stiffness increases, buffer functions deteriorate, thereby increasing the blood pressure and reducing the blood fl ow effi ciency. Intense aerobic exercise training helps to decrease stiffness in central arteries and peripheral arteries. We have demonstrated whether continuous aerobic exercise in elderly women can help to reduce stiffness in peripheral arteries, even when the exercise is relatively mild. Arterial pulse wave velocity (PMV) method was used to measure peripheral (upper arm-forearm) arterial stiffness in test subjects; eight healthy elderly women (age 62±1) who perform moderate exercises continuously and six healthy women (age 61±3) who do not exercise regularly. Findings demonstrate that stiffness in peripheral arteries is signifi cantly lower in the elderly women who participate in continuous aerobic exercise training compared to those with no such exercise routine. These fi ndings show that aerobic exercise on cycle ergometer that mainly uses lower limbs helps to reduce stiffness in upper limb arteries. Therefore, this study suggests that aerobic exercise training in peripheral arteries may have an effect on arteries where lower loads are to be applied.

Individual Variations in Exercise Training-induced Physiological Effects and Genetic Factors

“…The large difference of blood pressure between systole and diastole is seen as an independent risk factor in stroke and ischemic heart disease (Benetos, et al, 1997). We demonstrated that regular exercise training in middle-age, elderly and young people decreased arterial stiffness and the underlying mechanism related to production of vasoactive substances (Kakiyama, et al, 2001;Kakiyama, et al, 2005;Maeda, et al, 2001;Maeda, et al, 2003a;Maeda, et al, 2003b;Maeda, et al, 2004). The results of positive effects induced by training on arterial stiffness were also demonstrated by Tanaka, et al (2000) but individual variations are salient in the training-induced effects on arterial stiffness.…”