Effect Of Swiss Ball Balance Training On Arterial Stiffness And Heart Rate Variability In Youth And Middle-aged And Older People

OBJECTIVE: To examine the acute arterial stiffness and heart rate variability changes after maintaining one bout of balance on Swiss ball using different postures in young adults and middle-aged adults,and to evaluate the cumulative exposure effects on arterial stiffness after multiple exercise bouts in middle-aged adults.To investigate the changes in arterial stiffness and heart rate variability in middle-aged adults after long-term kneeling training.METHODS: We first enrolled 22 young adults(24.0 ± 1.1 years)and randomized them to non-exercise control(CON),on-ball balance exercise trial lasting 1×5 min in kneeling posture(K1)and sitting posture(S1)in study 1.In a following crossover experiment,19middle-aged adults(53.0±4.7 years)were randomized to non-exercise control(CON),onball balance exercise trial lasting 1×5 min in kneeling posture(K1)and in sitting posture(S1),and on-ball balance exercise trial lasting 2×5 min in kneeling posture(K2)and in sitting posture(S2)in study 2.Using pre-post cross-over self-control design,16 middle-aged adults(57.9 ± 6.1 years)were randomized to non-exercise control(CON)and on-ball balance training in kneeling posture(EX)in study 3.Cardio-ankle vascular index(CAVI),an indicator of systemic arterial stiffness,CAVI changes from BL in the same trial(⊿CAVI)were used for analysis.Autonomic nervous system activity in heart rate variability(HRV)was measured by the electrocardiographic workstation,and heart rate variability measurements were naturally log-transformed(Ln)to facilitate analysis.RESULTS: In K1 trial,⊿CAVI decreased significantly at 0 min(P < 0.05)in both young and middle-aged adults;however in S1 trial,⊿CAVI at 0 min increased significantly in young adults(P < 0.05)and decreased significantly in ln HF(P < 0.05),with ⊿CAVI tending to increase in middle-aged adults.Bonferroni post-test revealed that at 0 min,⊿CAVI of K1 in both young and middle-aged adults,and ⊿CAVI of S1 in young adults differed significantly from that of CON(P < 0.05).In middle-aged adults,⊿ CAVI decreased significantly at 10 min compared to BL in K2 trial(P < 0.05),and increased at 0min compared to BL in S2 trial(P < 0.05);however,difference compared to CON was not significant.In EX trial,no change in CAVI and heart rate variability was observed.CONCLUSION: Single on-ball balance bout in kneeling posture improved arterial stiffness transiently in both young and middle-aged adults;however,sitting posture elicited opposite changes,and this happened only in young adults.Multiple balance bouts resulted in no significant change in arterial stiffness in middle-aged adults.Vagal nerve activity was significantly reduced in young adults after on-ball balance exercise in young adults.There were no significant changes in heart rate variability in middle-aged adults whatever the exercise program.