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Int J Sports Med 2019; 40(04): 245-252
DOI: 10.1055/a-0800-1640
Physiology & Biochemistry
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Vascular Adaptation to Indoor Cycling Exercise in Premenopausal Women

Niclas Bjarnegård
1   Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Linköping, Sweden
2   Department of Clinical Physiology, Ryhov County Hospital, Jönköping, Sweden
,
Kristofer Hedman
3   Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Physiology, Linköping, Sweden
,
Toste Länne   †
4   Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Linköping, Sweden
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted 13 November 2018

Publication Date:
05 March 2019 (online)

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Abstract

The early vascular adaptation to indoor cycling, a popular activity at many fitness centres, is incompletely evaluated. Forty two healthy women (21–45 years) underwent measurements of arterial wall properties and geometry as well as a maximal bicycle exercise test before and after a 3 months period during which 21 of the women joined indoor cycling classes at a gym 2–3 times per week, while 21 women served as time controls. Peak work load increased by in average 16% (p<0.001) and ascending aortic diameter by 4% (p<0.01) in the exercise group, while unchanged in control group. The exercise intervention had no significant influence on the local intima-media thickness, blood pressure or the pulse pressure wave configuration while the carotid artery distensibility (p<0.05) was higher after the intervention. There was a positive correlation between change in (Δ) peak work load and Δ-diameter of tubular ascending aorta (r=0.42, p<0.01) in the exercise group. In conclusion, after only 3 months of bicycle exercise training, signs of central arterial remodelling were seen in premenopausal women, which was associated to improvement in exercise capacity.

Key words

aorta - artery - tonometry - ultrasound

† Deceased


Supplementary Material

 

  • References

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