There have been contradictory reports regarding resistance exercise and arterial stiffness. We examined the effects of long-term endurance training and intense resistance training on central hemodynamics, compared with healthy sedentary control (SED). We hypothesized that young adults participating in endurance sports would have decreased arterial stiffness, whereas those in intense resistance sports would have increased arterial stiffness.

One hundred and thirty participants, 20–30 years; 46 intense resistance trained athletes (IRT) (weight-lifters), 42 endurance trained athletes (ET) (long distance runners) and 42 sedentary individuals (SED) were investigated by tonometry-pulse wave analysis, aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) and ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM). Data were expressed as mean (SD). Differences were tested by analysis of variance, covariance and multiple linear regressions after adjustment for confounding variables.

There were no differences among groups regarding age, height, serum glycaemia, cholesterol and triglycerides levels and ABPM. Weight, BMI and waist size were higher in IRT group than ET. Resting heart rate and augmentation index were lower in trained participants than sedentary. Brachial and central blood pressures were lower in ET than IRT. aPWV was significantly lower in endurance trained (5.58±1.00m/s) and higher in IRT (7.06±0.87m/s) and SED (7.18±1.06m/s). After multiple regression analysis, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) remained the only hemodynamic parameter correlated to the aPWV whatever the group.

We find that aPWV is influenced by exercise modalities. DBP is an important determinant of aPWV in young.