Acute effects of moderate-intensity continuous and accumulated exercise on arterial stiffness in healthy young men

To examine and compare the effects of acute moderate-intensity continuous and accumulated exercise with different intervals on arterial stiffness in humans. Healthy young men (n = 16) participated in four trials in a randomized crossover design: complete rest control (CON), continuous exercise (CE, 30-min cycling), accumulated exercise with 20 min of interval (AE20, 2 × 15-min cycling) and accumulated exercise with 60 min of interval (AE60, 2 × 15-min cycling). Exercise was performed at intensity of 50 % heart rate reserve. Measurements of cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), an indicator of systemic arterial stiffness in humans, were performed at baseline (BL), immediately (0 min) and 60 min after exercise in exercise trials, and at corresponding time points in CON trial. CAVI remained unaltered throughout the procedure in CON trial (6.8 ± 0.1, 6.9 ± 0.1, 6.9 ± 0.2 at BL, 0 and 60 min, respectively). Similar CAVI reductions were observed in CE, AE20 and AE60 trials at 0 min compared to CON trial (P