The acute effect of maximal aerobic and isometric exercise on arterial stiffness parameters in boys and men

Purpose To evaluate whether the acute effects of aerobic or isometric exercise on arterial stiffness parameters differ between boys and men. Methods Fourteen boys (10 ± 2 years, BMI 17.8 ± 1.9 kg/m²) and nine men (26 ± 3 years, BMI 24.4 ± 3.3 kg/m²) completed maximal aerobic and isometric exercise testing. Blood pressure and arterial stiffness parameters [β-stiffness index, central pulse wave velocity (PWV)] were measured at rest, 5- and 20-min post-exercise. Results Systolic blood pressure (SBP) increased at 5 min and returned to resting values at 20 min in both groups for aerobic exercise (time p < 0.01). Men had a greater increase in SBP at 5 min post-isometric exercise than boys (interaction p < 0.01). Diastolic blood pressure was not different between groups for either exercise mode. At 5 min, aerobic exercise induced increases in β-stiffness index with greater increases seen in men (interaction p < 0.01). Isometric exercise resulted in opposite β-stiffness index responses; men increased whereas boys decreased (interaction p < 0.05). Boys had lower baseline PWV than men at all time points (p < 0.01) and PWV significantly increased in men at 5 min post-aerobic exercise (p = 0.01); this interaction approached significance (p = 0.051). Conclusion Boys show a differential arterial stiffness response following both aerobic and isometric exercise in comparison to men, which may be attributable to the seemingly quicker SBP recovery seen in boys.