Home-based isometric exercise training induced reductions resting blood pressure

Purpose: Isometric exercise training (IET) reduces resting blood pressure (BP). Most previous protocols impose exercise barriers which undermine its effectiveness as a potential physical therapy for altering BP. An inexpensive, home-based programme would promote IET as a valuable tool in the fight against hypertension. The aims of this study were: (a) to investigate whether home-based wall squat training could successfully reduce resting BP, and (b) to explore the physiological variables that might mediate a change in resting BP. Methods: Twenty-eight healthy normotensive males were randomly assigned to a control and a 4 week home-based IET intervention using a crossover design with a 4 week ‘washout’ period in-between. Wall squat training was completed 3x weekly over 4 weeks with 48 hours between sessions. Each session comprised 4x 2 minute bouts of wall squat exercise performed at a participant-specific knee joint angle relative to a target HR of 95% HRpeak, with 2 minutes rest between bouts. Resting heart rate, BP, cardiac output, total peripheral resistance and stroke volume were taken at baseline and post each condition. Results: Resting BP (systolic = -4 ± 5, diastolic = -3 ± 3 and mean arterial = -3 ± 3 mmHg), cardiac output (-0.54 ± 0.66 L∙min-1) and heart rate (-5 ± 7 beats∙min-1) were all reduced following IET, with no change in total peripheral resistance or stroke volume compared to the control. Conclusion: These findings suggest the wall squat provides an effective method for reducing resting BP in the home resulting primarily from a reduction in resting heart rate

Sprint interval and sprint continuous training increases circulating CD34+ cells and cardio-respiratory fitness in young healthy women

The improvement of vascular health in the exercising limb can be attained by sprint interval training (SIT). However, the effects on systemic vascular function and on circulating angiogenic cells (CACs) which may contribute to endothelial repair have not been investigated. Additionally, a comparison between SIT and sprint continuous training (SCT) which is less time committing has not been made

Combined aerobic and resistance exercise training decreases peripheral but not central artery wall thickness in subjects with type 2 diabetes

Objective Little is known about the impact of exercise training on conduit artery wall thickness in type 2 diabetes. We examined the local and systemic impact of exercise training on superficial femoral (SFA), brachial (BA), and carotid artery (CA) wall thickness in type 2 diabetes patients and controls. Methods Twenty patients with type 2 diabetes and 10 age- and sex-matched controls performed an 8-week training study involving lower limb-based combined aerobic and resistance exercise training. We examined the SFA to study the local effect of exercise, and also the systemic impact of lower limb-based exercise training on peripheral (i.e. BA) and central (i.e. CA) arteries. Wall thickness (WT), diameter and wall:lumen(W:L)-ratios were examined using automated edge detection of ultrasound images. Results Exercise training did not alter SFA or CA diameter in type 2 diabetes or controls (all P > 0.05). BA diameter was increased after training in type 2 diabetes, but not in controls. Exercise training decreased WT and W:L ratio in the SFA and BA, but not in CA in type 2 diabetes. Training did not alter WT or W:L ratio in controls (P > 0.05). Conclusion Lower limb-dominant exercise training causes remodelling of peripheral arteries, supplying active and inactive vascular beds, but not central arteries in type 2 diabetes

Impact of inactivity and exercise on the vasculature in humans

The effects of inactivity and exercise training on established and novel cardiovascular risk factors are relatively modest and do not account for the impact of inactivity and exercise on vascular risk. We examine evidence that inactivity and exercise have direct effects on both vasculature function and structure in humans. Physical deconditioning is associated with enhanced vasoconstrictor tone and has profound and rapid effects on arterial remodelling in both large and smaller arteries. Evidence for an effect of deconditioning on vasodilator function is less consistent. Studies of the impact of exercise training suggest that both functional and structural remodelling adaptations occur and that the magnitude and time-course of these changes depends upon training duration and intensity and the vessel beds involved. Inactivity and exercise have direct “vascular deconditioning and conditioning” effects which likely modify cardiovascular risk

Effect of unilateral forearm inactivity on endothelium-dependent vasodilator function in humans

Item does not contain fulltextExercise training is associated with rapid changes in endothelium-dependent vasodilation, which occur within days of training. Whilst long-term physical inactivity has potent effects on vascular structure, little is known about the immediate impact of inactivity on vascular function. Aim of this study was to measure vascular function before, during (day 4) and after 8 days of unilateral forearm inactivity. Thirteen healthy male subjects (22 +/- 1 years) were instructed to wear a sling on the non-dominant arm to induce local inactivity. Before, during (at 4 days) and after the 8-day intervention, we used echo Doppler to measure bilateral brachial artery dilator response to 5-min ischaemia [i.e. flow-mediated dilation (FMD)], ischaemic handgrip exercise (iEX) and endothelium-independent dilation to a NO donor [i.e. glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)]. Maximal handgrip strength of the inactive forearm significantly decreased after 8 days (t tests P = 0.03 for Day 0 vs. Day 8), confirming physical deconditioning in the inactive forearm. A significant decrease in peak blood flow was found in the intervention arm (sling: 539 +/- 236, 528 +/- 184, 384 +/- 142 ml/min) relative to the control arm (559 +/- 181, 591 +/- 219, 613 +/- 169 ml/min; 2-way ANOVA interaction: P = 0.05). Analysis revealed no significant change in brachial artery baseline diameter, FMD %, iEX or GTN across the 8 days in either arm (P > 0.05). Eight days of forearm physical inactivity induced a significant decrease in post-ischaemic limb blood flow, suggestive of remodelling of forearm resistance vessels. However, measures of conduit artery endothelium-dependent vasodilation were not altered across an 8-day period of inactivity, suggesting that initial remodelling occurs at distal ends of the vascular tree