Witid Mitranun and Krirkwit Phongsri

pp. 545 - 551

Abstract

To determine the acute effects of the different abdominal exercise training postures on endothelial function (flowmediated dilatation, FMD), shear rate, blood flow, vascular resistance, heart rate and arterial blood pressure, 48 healthy
untrained (inactive) male participants were randomly allocated equally to the crunch training (CR), side crunch training (SC),
and leg raise training (LR) groups. All exercise training programs were designed to yield the same period of exercise session
which included 16 repetitions per set for 3 sets. The CR group showed increased FMD, shear rate, blood flow, heart rate,
systolic and mean arterial blood pressures (all P<0.05). The SC group had significantly increased shear rate, heart rate,
systolic and mean arterial blood pressures, but not increase in FMD. The LR group showed significantly increased shear rate,
blood flow, systolic and diastolic and mean arterial blood pressures. However, the FMD in LR group was decreased (P<0.05).
Vascular resistance increased significantly only in LR group. In conclusion, the improved FMD was observed only in the CR
group, no change in the SC group, and impaired in the LR group. Crunch training program of abdominal exercise appears to
confer a significant improvement in endothelial function in inactive individuals.