Effects of a short-term interval aerobic training program with recovery bouts on vascular function in sedentary aged 70 or over: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Interval aerobic training programs with active recovery bouts (IATP-R) are reported as being more adapted to seniors while improving cardiorespiratory and endurance parameters. Report of benefits on vascular function is still limited. Purpose: To measure the impact of IATP-R on vascular function among seniors. Methods: Sedentary volunteers (>= 70 years of age) were randomly assigned to either IATP-R (n = 30) or control group (n= 30). The IATP-R consisted of 2 weekly sessions of 30-min (6 x 4-min at first ventilatory threshold (VT1) intensity + 1-min at 40% of VT1) cycling exercise over 9.5-week. Controls remained their sedentary life over the same period. In all participants, the endothelial function was measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in brachial artery and arterial stiffness through the carotid/radial and carotid/femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured at baseline and 9.5 weeks later. Results: Resulting from a planned interim analysis, IATP-R improved SBP (IATP-R: from 133.7 +/- 9.8 to 122.6 +/- 9.4 mmHg vs. Controls: from 128.9 +/- 12.5 to 132.6 +/- 14.7 mmHg), DBP (IATP-R: from 80.2 +/- 7.0 to 74.1 +/- 6.7 mmHg vs. Controls: from 77.1 +/- 6.8 to 80.3 +/- 7.5 mmHg), and FMD (IATP-R: from 6.7 +/- 2.0 to 7.5 +/- 2.7% vs. Controls: from 7.9 +/- 2.7 to 7.5 +/- 2.5%). No significant impact on PWV was measured. Conclusion: Although these findings resulted from an interim analysis, IATP-R might be effective in regulating BP and improving endothelial function among sedentary seniors.