ARTERIAL COMPLIANCE INCREASES AFTER MODERATE-INTENSITY CYCLING

Exercise training elevates arterial compliance at rest, but the effect s of acute exercise in this regard are unknown. This study investigate d the effects of a single, 30-min bout of cycling exercise at 65% of m aximal oxygen consumption on indexes of arterial compliance. Whole bod y arterial compliance determined noninvasively from simultaneous measu rements of aortic flow and carotid pressure was elevated (66 +/- 26%) at 0.5 h postexercise (P = 0.04), followed by a decline to baseline Ih after exercise. Aortic pulse-wave velocity, which is inversely relate d to compliance, was reduced (4 +/- 2%; P = 0.04) at 0.5 h postexercis e. Pulse-wave velocity in the leg decreased by 10 +/- 4% at this time (P = 0.01). Mean arterial pressure was unchanged; however, central sys tolic blood pressure was reduced postexercise (P = 0.03). Cardiac outp ut was elevated after exercise (P = 0.007) via heart rate elevation (P = 0.001), whereas stroke volume was unchanged. Total peripheral resis tance was therefore reduced (P = 0.01) and would be expected to contri bute to an elevation in arterial compliance. In conclusion, a single b out of cycling exercise increased whole body arterial compliance by me chanisms that may relate to vasodilation.