A systematic review of the arterial stiffness adaptations to chronic resistance and aerobic exercise

Arterial stiffness is increasingly recognised as a modifiable and independent cardiovascular risk factor, particularly in ageing populations. This systematic review examined the effects of resistance training (RT), aerobic training (AER), and concurrent aerobic plus resistance training (CON) on arterial stiffness in older adults. A comprehensive search of Medline (EBSCO), EMBASE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and clinicaltrials.gov identified eligible randomised controlled trials. Studies included measured arterial stiffness using pulse wave velocity (PWV) in individuals aged 60 and above. Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria, and quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. Findings indicated that RT generally had a neutral effect on arterial stiffness, while AER showed modest improvements. Notably, CON consistently reduced arterial stiffness across various elderly populations. These results suggest that combined aerobic and resistance exercise may offer the most effective non-pharmacological approach to improving vascular health in older adults. Further research is needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms and long-term effects.