Carotid Arterial Compliance during Different Intensities of Submaximal Endurance Exercise.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the elastic characteristics of the common carotid artery (CCA) during endurance exercise at 3 different intensities. : Twenty young healthy participants (10 males and 10 females) participated in this quasi-experimental cross-sectional study. Participants were tested in two sessions: (1) we took resting measurements of the elastic characteristics of the CCA and performed a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) on a cycle ergometer to determine submaximal exercise intensities, and we conducted (2) measurements of the elastic characteristics of the CCA while exercising in a cycle ergometer at 3 intensities based on blood lactate levels of low (<2 mmol/L), moderate (2-4 mmol/L), and high (>4 mmol/L). Beta stiffness was calculated using CCA diameters during systole and diastole, measured with high-definition ultrasound imaging, and CCA systolic and diastolic pressures were measured via applanation tonometry. : Overall, there were no differences between males and females in terms of any of the studied variables ( > 0.05). In addition, no significant changes were found in the CCA beta stiffness and vessel diameter ( > 0.05) between exercise intensities. There was a significant exercise intensity effect on CCA systolic pressure ( < 0.05), but not on CCA diastolic pressure ( > 0.05). : The biomechanical characteristics of the CCA, determined via compliance and beta-stiffness, do not change during cyclical aerobic exercise, regardless of exercise intensity.