Effects of body maintenance program on arterial stiffness

Increased arterial stiffness is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to examine the acute effects of a body maintenance program on arterial stiffness. Fifteen healthy adults participated in both control (CON) and body maintenance (BM) trials in random order on separate days. In the BM trial, participants performed a passive body maintenance program using dedicated devices for approximately 30 minutes. In the CON trial, participants maintained the same body postures as in the BM trial. Arterial stiffness was measured using the Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI) before, immediately after, and 30 minutes after each session. CAVI values showed no significant differences between the trials before starting, and no significant changes were observed in the CON trial. However, in the BM trial, CAVI was significantly reduced immediately after the session and returned to the baseline level after 30 minutes. Therefore, these findings suggest that a 30-minute passive body maintenance program temporarily reduces arterial stiffness.