Exercise and Arterial Stiffness

Abstract

Arterial stiffness is closely associated with increased cardiac mortality and morbidity risk. Thus, targeting multiple modifiable risk factors has become the main therapeutic strategy to decrease arterial stiffness in patients with high cardiovascular risk. Due to its clinical significance, several indices have been developed during the last two decades to assess arterial stiffness in a non-invasive manner. The measurement of pulsewave velocity (PWV) in central arterial segments (i.e., aorta and its main branches) is considered as the ‘gold standard’ estimation of arterial stiffness. PWV is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events in patients with overt cardiovascular disease as well as in healthy adults. There is a growing interest in therapeutical strategies aiming at reducing arterial stiffness. Among them, regular aerobic exercise such as walking, jogging or cycling is known to prevent or even reverse arterial stiffening in healthy adults. On the other hand, they are important in terms of inducing strength gain and increased lean body mass, although the effects of resistance exercises on arterial stiffness are controversial. The combination of aerobic and resistance exercises seems to be the most convenient method for the improvement of the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal functions and for the maintenance of well-being.

Cite this article as; Karakus M, Akkurt S, Exercise and Arterial Stiffness. Turk J Sports Med 2017;52 (1):25-35