- Hajime Miura: Laboratory for Applied Physiology, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, University of Tokushima, 1-1 Minamijyosanjima, Tokushima 770-8502, Japan. hajime-m@ias.tokushima-u.ac.jp
We evaluated the effects of different training frequencies on arterial stiffness. 77 elderly women (mean 68.8 years and 7.0 SD) were divided into two training (1DW and 2DW) and a CONTROL group (n = 23). 1DW (n = 29) participated in 90-min group training once a week for 12 weeks, while 2DW (n = 25) attended twice a week. Each training program included recreational activities, six to eight resistance exercises for circuit training, and leg exercises for chair-based exercise. Brachial systolic and diastolic blood pressures and the brachial-to-ankle pulse-wave velocity (baPWV) were obtained in the supine position. Muscle strength and ventilatory threshold were also measured. After the training program, a reduction (P < 0.01) in baPWV was observed in 2DW (-7.8 +/- 7.0%) but not in 1DW (-1.5 +/- 7.5%) and CONTROL (-0.4 +/- 7.5%) without any changes in other measurements. The results suggest that, in order to improve arterial stiffness, an exercise frequency of at least twice a week is to be recommended for elderly.