Arterial compliance of rowers: implications for combined aerobic and strength training on arterial elasticity

Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas; and Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin Submitted 5 October 2005 ; accepted in final form 8 November 2005 Regular endurance exercise increases central arterial compliance, whereas resistance training decreases it. It is not known how the vasculature adapts to a combination of endurance and resistance training. Rowing is unique, because its training encompasses endurance- and strength-training components. We used a cross-sectional study design to determine arterial compliance of 15 healthy, habitual rowers [50 ± 9 (SD) yr, 11 men and 4 women] and 15 sedentary controls (52 ± 8 yr, 10 men and 5 women). Rowers had been training 5.4 ± 1.2 days/wk for 5.7 ± 4.0 yr. The two groups were matched for age, body composition, blood pressure, and metabolic risk factors. Central arterial compliance (simultaneous ultrasound and applanation tonometry on the common carotid artery) was higher ( P < 0.001) and carotid -stiffness index was lower ( P < 0.001) in rowers than in sedentary controls. There were no group differences for measures of peripheral (femoral) arterial stiffness. The higher central arterial compliance in rowers was associated with a greater cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity, as estimated during a Valsalva maneuver ( r = 0.54, P < 0.005). In conclusion, regular rowing exercise in middle-aged and older adults is associated with a favorable effect on the elastic properties of the central arteries. Our results suggest that simultaneously performed endurance training may negate the stiffening effects of strength training. rowing; arterial stiffness; cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: H. Tanaka, Dept. of Kinesiology, Univ. of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station, Austin, TX 78712 (e-mail: htanaka{at}mail.utexas.edu )