Comparison of the acute effects of ankle bathing versus moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on vascular function in young adults

Min Jeong Cho, Ho Il Choi, Hyun Jeong Kim, Kanokwan Bunsawat, Setor K. Kunutsor, Sae Young Jae

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We examined the efficacy of ankle bathing versus aerobic exercise to improve vascular function in young adults who were randomized to aerobic exercise (AE) (n = 13, 40%–60% of heart rate reserve), ankle bathing (AB) (n = 15, 43 °C), or a control condition (CON) (n = 14, ankle bathing, 36 °C) for 40 min. Conduit vessel function [brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD)], carotid and femoral artery blood flow and shear rate (SR), and arterial stiffness [carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), augmentation index (AIx@75), b-stiffness index, and arterial compliance] were evaluated. Compared with CON, AE and AB increased FMD at 30 min and 90 min (interaction: p < 0.05); AB decreased carotid artery blood flow and SR at 30 min, while both AE and AB increased femoral artery blood flow and SR at 30 min and 90 min (interaction: p < 0.05); AE and AB decreased cf-PWV and AIx@75 at 30 min and 90 min (interaction: p < 0.05); and AE improved both carotid and femoral b-stiffness index and arterial compliance, while AB reduced b-stiffness index and increased arterial compliance only in the femoral artery (interaction: p < 0.05). These findings suggest that ankle bathing may serve as an alternative strategy for enhancing vascular function. Novelty: • We observed similar improvements in conduit vessel function, femoral artery blood flow and shear rate, and arterial stiffness following ankle bathing and acute aerobic exercise in young adults. • These findings have identified ankle bathing as a potential therapeutic strategy for enhancing vascular function, which may be particularly relevant for those with limited ability to engage in regular aerobic exercise.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)469-481
Number of pages13
JournalApplied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism
Volume47
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022

Keywords

  • Arterial stiffness
  • Conduit vessel function
  • Exercise
  • Flow-mediated dilation
  • Pulse wave velocity
  • Thermal therapy

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