Resistance Exercise Training Improves Microvascular Function In Young Individuals With Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental health disorder that impacts individuals’ everyday lives both emotionally and physiologically. Those who suffer from the disorder are more likely to develop hypertension (HTN) and subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD), with microvascular dysfunction identified as a hallmark characteristic of elevated HTN/CVD risk. Resistance exercise training (RET) has formerly been used to reduce the psychological symptoms of PTSD, but, as RET is typically employed to improve skeletal muscle quality/quantity, it is unclear if RET can significantly improve microvascular function. Purpose: To determine if RET can significantly improve microvascular function thereby mediating HTN/CVD risk in individuals with PTSD. Methods: Seven young individuals (7 F / 0 M, age 25 ± 5) with PTSD and/or PTSD symptomology (PCL-5 > 33) had their upper limb microvascular function assessed prior to and following 10 weeks of RET (3 days/week; 3 sets until failure of bench press, back squat, Romanian deadlift, and bent-over row at 80% one repetition maximum). Microvascular function was assessed via changes in vascular conductance (VC) following a 2-second isometric handgrip contraction at 30% of pre-training maximum voluntary contraction. Changes in brachial artery blood flow (BF) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were monitored during each contraction to calculate VC (BF divided by MAP). Results: After 10 weeks of RET, improvements in microvascular function were observed evident by a significant increase in peak change in VC (pre-RET: 1.29 ± 0.89; post-RET: 2.03 ± 1.21 mL·min-1·mmHg; p = 0.04) in response to the 2-second isometric contraction when compared to pre-RET values. Examination of the components of VC revealed a significant increase in peak change in BF (pre-RET: 107 ± 74; post-RET: 159 ± 91 mL·min-1; p = 0.03), but no significant difference in the peak change in MAP between pre- and post-RET (pre-RET: -4 ± 2; post-RET: -7 ± 6 mmHg; p = 0.43). Conclusion: The results of this study determined that RET can significantly improve microvascular function in young individuals with PTSD. These results implicate RET as an effective intervention for improving microvascular function and thereby potentially mitigating the risk of HTN and CVD in individuals with PTSD.