Resistance Training Effects on Arterial Compliance in Premenopausal Women

Fjeldstad, Anette S. PhD
Bemben, Michael G. PhD
Bemben, Debra A. PhD

From the Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of Utah and Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinic Center (GRECC), Salt Lake City, Utah (ASF); and Department of Health and Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma (MGB, DAB).

Address correspondence to: Anette S. Fjeldstad, George E. Whalen VA Medical Center, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84148; e-mail: [email protected].

Angiology 60(6):p 750-756, December-January 2009. | DOI: 10.1177/0003319709331393

Endurance training has been shown to increase arterial compliance; however, the effect of resistance training is unclear.

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect lower body resistance training on arterial compliance in healthy premenopausal women.

Methods:

Thirty-two women were assigned to a resistance training group (n = 21) or a control group (n = 11). Large (C1) and small (C2) arterial compliance (Pulse Contour Analysis) were measured at baseline and after twelve weeks of training.

Results:

Two-way (group × time) repeated measured ANOVA did not detect significant group, time effects or group × time interactions for small arterial compliance (P > 0.05). There was a significant time effect for large arterial compliance (P < 0.05), which increased in both groups.

Conclusions:

In contrast to previous studies in men, which found decrease in arterial compliance with resistance training, no decrease in arterial compliance was observed.