Post-exercise aortic hemodynamic responses to low-intensity resistance exercise with and without vascular occlusion

High-intensity resistance exercise may acutely increase arterial stiffness. Vascular occlusion (VO) acutely decreases arterial stiffness. The purpose of this study was to evaluate acute aortic hemodynamic responses to low-intensity resistance exercise (LIRE) with slow eccentric movement with and without VO. Twenty-three young healthy subjects (12 women and 11 men) were randomized into three trials: seated control (CON), LIRE (six sets at 40% one repetition maximum), and LIRE with VO. Vascular measurements were assessed before, immediately (post1), and 30 min after (post30) each trial. There were significant (P < 0.05) time effects and trial-by-time interactions such that the changes were greater after the LIRE trials compared with CON. Aortic blood pressure [systolic (similar to 10 mmHg) and diastolic (similar to 5 mmHg)], heart rate (similar to 23 b.p.m.), and the first (similar to 10 mmHg) and second systolic peak (similar to 9 mmHg) increased, whereas time to reflection decreased (similar to 15 ms) at post1. All measurements returned to baseline at post30, except aortic augmentation index (AIx), which decreased similar to 5% after the LIRE trials compared with CON. Increases in cardiovascular variables immediately after the LIRE trials were mild and short lasting. Our results indicate that LIRE acutely decreases AIx 30 min after exercise cessation. The use of moderate intermittent VO during LIRE does not produce additional post-exercise vascular effects.