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Acute Effect of High-Intensity Interval Cycling on Carotid Arterial Stiffness and Hemodynamics
Wenxue Yuan1, Haibin Liu1, Zhilin Luan2
1Department of Physical Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China.
Insights
High-intensity interval cycling (HIIC) acutely increases carotid arterial stiffness and alters hemodynamics in sedentary males. These changes, including increased wall shear stress, persist for at least 30 minutes post-exercise.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading global cause of death.
- Carotid arterial stiffness and hemodynamics are linked to CVD development.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for CVD prevention and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the acute effects of high-intensity interval cycling (HIIC) on carotid arterial stiffness and hemodynamics.
- To assess these effects in sedentary healthy males.
Main Methods:
- Thirty sedentary males underwent HIIC (3 sets, 20s each).
- Carotid artery diameter and velocity waveforms were measured using Doppler ultrasound at rest and 3, 15, and 30 min post-exercise.
- Brachial artery blood pressure was measured simultaneously.
Main Results:
- Acute HIIC significantly increased arterial stiffness and decreased arterial diameter.
- Arterial stiffness changes persisted for 30 min, longer than diameter changes.
- Wall shear stress (WSS) increased at 3 min post-exercise, returning to baseline by 30 min, while the oscillating shear index remained elevated.
Conclusions:
- Acute HIIC induces significant, lasting changes in carotid arterial stiffness and hemodynamics.
- These physiological alterations are evident at both 3 and 30 minutes post-exercise.
Background:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) contributes to be one of the leading causes of death in the population worldwide. Carotid arterial stiffness and local hemodynamics are associated with the occurrence and development of CVD. Therefore, understanding the alterations of human carotid arterial stiffness and hemodynamics is of great clinical value in the prevention and treatment of CVD.
Objective:
In this study, we aimed to investigate the acute effect of high-intensity interval cycling (HIIC) on carotid arterial stiffness and hemodynamics in sedentary.
Methods:
Thirty volunteered healthy sedentary males were enrolled in this study. HIIC intervention (3 sets, 20 s per set) was performed individually. A color Doppler ultrasound was applied to detect the images of the arterial inner diameters and center-line velocity waveforms at the right common carotid artery at different time points (at rest, 3 min, 15 min, and 30 min) after HIIC. Synchronously, electronic manometer was used to measure the systolic and diastolic pressures at the left brachial artery.
Results:
Arterial stiffness increased and arterial diameter decreased significantly after acute HIIC. The variation in stiffness persisted for 30 min, at least 15 min longer than the change in diameter. At 3 min after exercise, maximum and mean wall shear stresses (WSS) increased and minimum WSS was also higher than the resting value. At 30 min after exercise, WSS returned to the baseline, but oscillating shear index was still higher than the resting value.
Conclusions:
In summary, arterial stiffness and hemodynamics changed significantly not only at 3 min but also at 30 min after acute HIIC.
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