Impact of Water- and Land-Based Exercise Training on Risk Factors and Vascular Function in Middle-Aged and Older Men and Women

Abstract

Introduction: Exercise improves vascular function, but it is unclear whether benefits are mediated by traditional cardiovascular risk factors or whether sex differences in training effects exist in older adults. We hypothesized that exercise would improve cardiovascular risk factors, that males and females would benefit similarly, and that improvements in risk factors would correlate with changes in vascular function. Methods: Seventy-two healthy middle-aged/older adults (age, 62 ± 7 yr; 26%) were randomized to a land-walking (n = 23), water-walking (n = 25), or a nonexercise control group (C; n = 23). The exercise groups undertook supervised and monitored training three times a week for 50 ..