Elevations in central augmentation index (AIx) are predictive of cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study was to examine AIx immediately and 24 h following an acute bout of high-intensity functional training (HIFT) in apparently healthy young adults. A second aim compared the exercise-induced AIx recovery response between men and women. Thirty-two recreationally active younger adults (n = 16 men) were tested. Baseline central hemodynamic measures were assessed, followed by a single bout of bodyweight HIFT. The HIFT included 4 rounds of burpees, jump squats, split squats, and walking lunges. Assessments were repeated 5, 10, 15, and 24 h post-exercise. AIx was normalized to a heart rate of 75 bpm (AIx75). There was a significant main effect of time on AIx75 across all groups (P < 0.001) with AIx75 increasing at all acute time points compared with baseline and returning to resting values 24 h post-exercise. When examining sex differences after covarying for height and body fat percentage, the authors found no time × sex interaction (P = 0.62), or main effect for sex (P = 0.41), but the significant main effect of time remained (P < 0.001). The AIx75 response to HIFT follows a similar recovery pattern as previously studied modes of exercise with no residual effects 24 h later and no differences between men and women indicating no persistent cardiovascular strain in younger adults participating in this mode of exercise.
Keywords: différences entre les sexes; entraînement fonctionnel de haute intensité; high-intensity functional training; sex differences; vasculaire; vascular.