The effect of different proximities to failure on arterial stiffness following resistance training protocols matched for volume-load.

This study compared acute changes in measures of arterial stiffness (AS) between two resistance training (RT) protocols that were load, volume and rest matched, but differed in intensity of effort. Eleven healthy adults (36.4 ± 6.8 years) performed a RT protocol with high intensity of effort (HE) and a RT protocol with low intensity of effort (LE). The HE protocol consisted of 3 sets of 12 repetitions, while the LE comprised of 6 sets of 6 repetitions. Loading intensity, volume load, and total rest duration were equivalent between the RT sessions. Pulse wave velocity, augmentation index values collected at baseline, immediately post and 15 min post-exercise. HE elicited significantly greater increases in carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (6.4 ± 0.3 to 7.3 ± 0.5 m/s) when compared to LE (6.6 ± 0.3 to 6.7 ± 0.3 m/s) (p < 0.05). Both HE and LE induced significant increases in augmentation index (13 ± 5.6 to 28.1 ± 9.3%) post exercise (all p < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that RT with a lower intensity of effort attenuate increases in measures of arterial stiffness compared to a RT scheme at higher intensity of effort when volume load and total rest are equalized.