Arterial Stiffness and Cardiovascular Hemodynamics After Life-Long Endurance and Resistance Training in Aged Athletes

Despite the established health benefits of exercise, it is presently unknown whether a life-long endurance or resistance training regimen exhibits greater benefits on arterial stiffness and cardiovascular hemodynamics in aged athletes. PURPOSE: To compare the effects of life-long endurance and resistance training on arterial stiffness and cardiovascular hemodynamics in aged athletes. METHODS: Twenty-four endurance (END) and twenty resistance (RES) trained elderly athletes, with nine age-matched sedentary controls (CON), underwent resting pulse wave velocity and thoracic electrical bio-impedance measurements to assess arterial stiffness and cardiovascular hemodynamics, respectively. Participants were life-long athletes actively participating in masters athletic competitions. Participant characteristics were as follows (mean±SD): END 71±7 yrs, 174±5 cm, 72±8 kg, and 44.9±9.7 training years; RES 70±8 yrs, 173±7 cm, 84±13 kg, and 32.4±20.1 training years; CON 74±5 yrs, 171±5 cm, 80±11 kg, and 0±0 training years. Kruskal-Wallis test with Tukey’s post hoc analysis were used to assess differences between groups. RESULTS: Pulse wave velocity was lower in END and RES vs. CON (8.5±1.1 and 8.4±2.0 vs. 10.7±1.9 m/s; p<0.05). Cardiac index, stroke volume and index, ejection phase contractility index, inotropic state index and left stroke work index were higher, while stroke systemic vascular resistance index was lower in END vs. RES and CON (p<0.05). Central diastolic blood pressure was also lower in END vs. RES and CON (77±10 vs. 84±7 and 84±8 mmHg; p<0.05). Central systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate variability parameters were not different between groups (p≥0.05). CONCLUSIONS: While both training regimens exhibited lower arterial stiffness, aged athletes with a training history in endurance sports also demonstrated improved cardiovascular hemodynamics compared to their resistance sports counterparts and sedentary controls, revealing favourable influences on cardiovascular health. Although important musculoskeletal benefits are closely linked to aging and resistance training, our findings further indicate that resistance training may not protect the cardiovascular system to the same extent as life-long endurance training.