Differential Effects of Continuous versus Discontinuous Aerobic Training on Blood Pressure and Hemodynamics

The purpose of this study was to compare the hemodynamic, arterial stiffness, and blood flow changes following four weeks of either continuous or discontinuous aerobic exercise in adults. Forty-seven subjects between the ages of 18 and 57 were recruited for one month of either continuous aerobic treadmill work for 30 minutes at 70% max heart rate or 3 bouts of 10 minutes of exercise at 70% of max heart rate with two 10 minute break periods in between, totaling 30 minutes of aerobic work. Following exercise, both CON and DIS groups demonstrated a significant improvement in VO2max (CON 35.39±1.99 to 38.19±2.03; DIS 36.18±1.82 to 39.33±1.75), heart rate max (CON 183.5±3.11 to 187.17±3.06; DIS 179.06±2.75 to 182±2.61), decreases in SBP(CON 119±1.82 to 115.11±1.50; DIS 117.44±1.90 to 112.67±1.66), DBP(CON 72.56±1.65 to 70.56±1.06; DIS 71.56±1.59 to 69.56±1.43), augmentation index (CON 17.17±2.17 to 14.9±1.92; DIS 19.71±2.66 to 13.91±2.46), central pulse wave velocity (CON 8.29±0.32 to 6.92±0.21; DIS 7.85±0.30 to 6.83±0.29), peripheral PWV (CON 9.49±0.35 to 7.72±0.38; DIS 9.11±0.37 to 7.58±0.47), and significant increases in average forearm blood flow (CON 4.06±0.12 to 4.34±0.136; DIS 4.26±0.18 to 4.53±0.15), peak FBF following reactive hyperemia (CON 28.45±0.094 to 29.96±0.45; DIS 29.29±0.46 to 30.6±0.38) area under the curve of FBF (CON 28.65±1.77 to 30.4±1.08; DIS 30.52±1.9 to 31.67±1.44) and AUC peak FBF following RH (CON 222.3±5.68 to 231.95±4.42; DIS 230.81±6.91 to 237.19±5.39. These data suggest that for healthy people either four weeks of continuous or discontinuous aerobic training is effective in improving measures of fitness and vascular health.