ECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH22
INTRODUCTION: The acute effects of resistance (RES), moderate-intensity continuous (MICE), and concurrent (CONE) exercise on dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA), as well as potential sex differences in dCA post exercise remains unexplored. This forms an important area of investigation given exercise poses a challenge to dCA and evidence suggests that females have impaired resting dCA compared to males (Labrecque et al., 2019). However, whether this impairment extends post exercise remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the acute effects of these exercise modalities on dCA in healthy young adults, and to explore potential sex differences therein. METHODS: 12 males (mean±SD, 24±3.6 years) and 14 females (23±2.1 years) volunteered to take part in this study. Participants completed two preliminary and four experimental visits. On visits one and two, participants completed a ramp incremental cycling test to exhaustion and 1 repetition maximum (1RM) test, respectively. Participants then completed four separate experimental trials that were matched for time (30 minutes): sedentary control day (CONT), RES exercise at 70% 1RM, MICE at 90% gas exchange threshold (GET), CONE consisting of RES and MICE. dCA was assessed pre, and 10 minutes post experimental trials using a single sit-to-stand manoeuvre. Middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (MCAv) was measured via transcranial Doppler ultrasonography and mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured via finger plethysmography. Baseline MCAv was taken as the last 60 seconds of seated rest. dCA was quantified as the percentage fall in MCAv relative to the percentage fall in MAP upon standing (∆%MCAv/∆%MAP). dCA responses were analysed using a mixed model ANOVA. RESULTS: Baseline MCAv remained unaffected by condition or time (P>0.05). Females exhibited higher baseline MCAv compared to males (P=0.01). However, there were no significant interactions between condition, time, and sex (P>0.05). The fall in MCAv upon standing was not significantly different 10 minutes post any experimental condition in comparison to pre, except for the RES trial, where the fall in MCAv in both absolute (10.37±4.20 vs 12.89±3.27 cm/s, P=0.01) and relative (16.16±6.11 vs 20.38±5.20%, P=0.01) terms was greater 10 minutes post. For the fall in MAP, there was no main effect of condition or time (P>0.05). No sex differences were reported for the fall in MCAv or MAP (P>0.05). dCA remained unchanged following all experimental conditions (P=0.61). No sex differences in dCA were found pre or 10 minutes post any experimental trial (P=0.17). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that: (1) dCA remains intact 10 minutes post-RES, MICE, and CONE, suggesting that acute exercise does not alter dCA responses in healthy young adults; and (2) provides evidence of no sex differences in dCA, highlighting that both males and females exhibit similar dCA both before, and 10 minutes post these exercise conditions.
Read CV Emma CurtinECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH22
INTRODUCTION: Hormonal changes of menopause impact on womens health (1). Resistance training is recommended on reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease (2) and improving cardiometabolic health in postmenopausal women (3). Set configuration has been demonstrated to influence various physiological responses and adaptations (4,5). The aim of this study was to explore the blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and lipid profile changes in postmenopausal women following resistance training protocols differing in set configuration. METHODS: 16 physically active postmenopausal women participated in a study funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and University (PID2021-124277OB). After medical evaluation and familiarization, participants were assigned to control (CON) and experimental groups: 9 sets of 4 repetitions with 45s rest (4S), or 4 sets of 9 repetitions with 120s rest (9S). Target variables were assessed before, after 12-weeks of training and after 8-weeks of follow-up. Systolic (sBP), diastolic (dBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were evaluated at rest for 10min using Task Force System. Arterial stiffness was evaluated via Popmetre, measuring finger-to-toe pulse wave velocity (ft-PWV) and ankle-brachial index (ABI). Lipid profile analysis included total cholesterol (CHOL), HDL, LDL, triglycerides (TGL), and CHOL ratio. RESULTS: ANOVA did not detect a main effect of group, time, and group×time interaction (p>0.05) for sBP, dBP and MAP. Compared to pretest lower descriptive values of sBP were found in follow-up for 4S (109.96 to 99.08mmHg). Moreover, compared to pretest, lower descriptive values of dBP (70.27 to 63.72mmHg) and MAP (87.32 to 79.09mmHg) were found in follow-up for 4S. Main group effect was detected for ft-PWV, being overall values higher in 9S (17.51±0.88m/s) compared to CON (13.61±1.08m/s). Main time effect showed lower ABI in follow-up compared to pre and postest for 4S (2.09±0.04 to 1.10±0.10) and 9S (2.02±0.04 to 0.90±0.30). ANOVA did not detect a main effect of group, time, and group×time interaction (p>0.05) for LDL, TGL and CHOL ratio. Lower overall CHOL and HDL were observed in follow-up compared to pre and postest (p<0.011) for 9S and 4S. Descriptive data found lower TGL in follow-up for 9S (87.30±15.10mg/dL) compared to pre (105.50±22.40mg/dL) and postest (109.80±43.30mg/dL). CONCLUSION: Preliminary results showed that none of the variables analyzed were modulated by set configuration after middle-term programmes. However, descriptive data raises a tendency to lower sBP, dBP and MAP after intervention and follow-up for 4S. Experimental groups improve vascular health in follow-up presenting ABI values lower than 1.1. Finally, a tendency towards a better lipid profile was observed for experimental groups. REFERENCES 1.Hulteen, R.M., et al. Int. J. Sports Med. 2023 2.Momma, H., et al. Br. J. Sports Med. 2022 3.Lin, Y.Y. and Lee, S.D. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 4.Jukic I., et al. Sports Med. 2020 5.Jukic I., et al. Sports Med. 2021
Read CV Maria Gabriela Enriquez-GonzalezECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH22
INTRODUCTION: Passive static stretching (PS) improves endothelial function and reduces arterial stiffness in healthy and pathological subjects [1]. Recent evidence suggests that stretching a limited number of muscles elicits systemic cardiovascular adaptations in young participants [2]. Thus, local PS could improve cardiovascular health in hypertensive subjects (HS), characterized by elevated blood pressure and possible low exercise tolerance [3]. We hypothesize that systemic endothelial function, central arterial stiffness, and blood pressure will improve after a six-week PS intervention for the lower limbs in HS. METHODS: 24 HS participated in this longitudinal non-randomized crossover study. Blood pressure was recorded with a sphygmomanometer. Carotid-to-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (PWVcf) was measured with the Complior system as an index of central arterial stiffness. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and nitrate-mediated dilation (NMD) were assessed in the brachial artery via ultrasound to evaluate systemic vasomotor control. Assessments were conducted at baseline (T0) and after a 6-week control period (T1), followed by a 6-week PS intervention (20 min/day, 5 days/week) (T2), and a final session after a 6-week follow-up (T3). RESULTS: No changes were observed in T1 for all variables (all P≥0.06). In T2, systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased from 126±11 to 122±11 mmHg (P<0.013). No changes were found in diastolic blood pressure (P=0.126), pulse pressure (P=0.172), mean arterial pressure (P=0.071), PWVcf (P=0.515), brachial artery diameter (P=0.615), FMD% (P=0.167), and NMD% (P=0.800). In T3, SBP returned to pre-intervention values (P=0.042 vs. T2; P=0.534 vs. T1). CONCLUSION: A six-week PS protocol for the lower limbs reduced SBP in HS, but effects were reversed after the follow-up, highlighting the need for continuous stimulus to sustain the training benefits. The absence of central and systemic adaptations suggests SBP reduction resulted from decreased stiffness in involved and non-tested vessels or other unevaluated mechanisms (e.g., reduced sympathetic overdrive, renin-angiotensin system activation). References: 1. Kruse NT, Scheuermann BW (2017) Cardiovascular Responses to Skeletal Muscle Stretching: “Stretching” the Truth or a New Exercise Paradigm for Cardiovascular Medicine? Sports Med 47:2507–2520. 2. Bisconti AV, Cè E, Longo S, et al (2020) Evidence for improved systemic and local vascular function after long‐term passive static stretching training of the musculoskeletal system. J Physiol 598:3645–3666. 3. Oparil S, Acelajado MC, Bakris GL, et al (2018) Hypertension. Nat Rev Dis Primers 4:18014.
Read CV Nicholas ToninelliECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH22