LEaSTCaReThe Effects of Lifelong Endurance and Strength Training on the Central and Peripheral Cardiovascular Responses

Population ageing represents a problem both for health outcomes and for social dynamics in the social welfare states. Currently, the over 60 represents the fastest growing segment of the population. Despite a downward trend in the incidence of cardiovascular diseases, they remain the main culprits for what concern mortality rates in the world. Increasing age is considered the major risk factor for cardiovascular mortality. One of the main components of the cardiovascular response to exercise is dictated by the exercise pressor reflex originating in the exercising muscle and responding to metabolic and mechanical stimuli. Research indicates that at least 20% of the regulation of blood pressure could be ascribed to these cardiovascular reflexes. A dysfunctional reflex-mediated response increases the chances of cardiovascular events that may end up in severe consequences. Chronic exercise training is recognized to be an important tool to control blood pressure. The mechanisms through which exercise exerts its effect are multiple. Among these, an improvement of the neural control of the reflex originating in the muscle seems a likely contributor. However, at present, the effect of chronic exercise training on the EPR response in the elderly has not been elucidated. The aim of the study is to characterize the central and peripheral cardiovascular response in the lifelong endurance and strength trained elders population.