Homebased Standing Core Exercise Training Improves Femoral Blood Flow but not Arterial Stiffness in Middle-Aged to Older Adults

Homebased exercise is often advocated to improve physical fitness in the aging population, especially when outdoor activity is not available. Yet we often have a limited understanding of its training effects for clinical uses. Aim: To investigate a short-term exercise training of standing core exercise on femoral blood flow and vascular hemodynamic changes in middle-aged to the older population. Methods: A total of 34 middle-aged to older adults were recruited and randomly assigned into walking (M/F = 6/7, age = 66 ± 3 years), core exercise (M/F = 6/6, age = 66 ± 2 years), and the control group (M/F = 4/5, age = 70 ± 3 years). Carotid and brachial blood pressure, Carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) and Brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV), femoral blood flow and compliance, leg hemodynamics, as well as aerobic and muscular fitness (30 s arm curl and sit-to-stand test) were measured pre and post 8 weeks of exercise training (60–70% HRmax, three sessions/week). Results: Core exercise group significantly increased femoral blood flow, but not overall vascular functions; arm muscle endurance and leg power performance were also significantly improved after training. The walking group significantly reduced baPWV, leg resistance, as well as increase femoral blood flow and compliance after training. Compared with the control, the core group elicited a higher femoral blood blow, whereas leg resistance was significantly reduced in the walking group after training. Conclusion: A short-term standing core training appears to augment femoral blood flow and muscular fitness in middle-aged to older adults, yet walking is more effective in improving overall vascular health in this population. •Standing core training improves femoral blood flow in middle-aged to older adults. •The increase of blood velocity appears to associate with the improvement of blood flow. •Walking exercise training is superior to improve overall vascular function.