Acute Effects of Moderate Continuous Training on Stress Test-Related Pulse Pressure and Wave Reflection in Healthy Men.

INTRODUCTION: Arterial dysfunction develops early in life even in individuals with modest cardiovascular risk. Stress is associated with increased risk in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

AIM: The main objectives of this study were to investigate the acute effects of moderate continuous training (MCT) on established markers of arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk during standardized cold pressor stress testing (CPT).

METHODS: 29 young healthy male subjects (33.7 ± 8 years, BMI 24 ± 2 kg/m(2)) performed a 60-min period of moderate upright bicycle exercise with 65% of maximum heart rate. Before (t0), 45 (t45) as well as 60 (t60) min after exercise peripheral pulse pressure (PP) as well as augmentation index at a set heart rate (AIx@75) were assessed non-invasively at rest using an oscillometric device. Immediately after t0 and t60 PP and AIx@75 were registered at the end of a 2 min CPT.

RESULTS: PP (p = 0.005) and AIx@75 (p = 0.04) were reduced below pre-exercise level at t60. In contrast to CPT before exercise, there were significant reductions in PP (p = 0.039) as well as AIx@75 (p = 0.002) during CPT after exercise. Additionally, there was a negative correlation between maximal oxygen consumption and AIx@75 (r = -0.42, p = 0.044).

CONCLUSIONS: Acute MCT decreased PP and reduces AIx@75 after 60 min of recovery. Furthermore, PP and AIx@75 showed reduced values after completion of MCT indicating attenuated hemodynamic response to stress testing after MCT. Moreover, higher physical conditioning status was associated with more favorable effects on stress test-related arterial compliance.