Lower Body vs. Upper Body Resistance Training and Arterial Stiffness in Young Men

Resistance training has been shown to increase arterial stiffness. The purpose of the present study was to examine and compare the systemic arterial stiffness responses to acute lower body (LRT) and upper body (URT) resistance training. 20 healthy young men [median age: 26 years (interquartile range 23, 32)] underwent LRT, URT and whole body resistance training (WRT). Before and immediately after, as well as 20, 40 and 60 min after each training session, we measured the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) using VaSera VS-1500 N. We used mixed models for repeated measurements to estimate the post-exercise differences in CAVI and baPWV between the 3 resistance training modes. Immediately after exercise cessation, both CAVI and baPWV were lower for LRT compared with URT [CAVI: - 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI] - 1.15, - 0.70); baPWV: - 2.08 m/s (95% CI - 2.48, - 1.67)]. Differences between LRT and URT gradually decreased during follow-up. Compared with WRT, LRT induced a decrease and URT an increase in arterial stiffness across all time points. In conclusion, LRT presents more favorable post-exercise arterial stiffness than URT. Our results suggest that LRT or WRT may be preferred over URT in individuals with impaired arterial stiffness.