Vascular adaptation in elite female and male rowers across a competitive season.

ABSTRACT: The 'athlete's artery' phenotype describes exercise-induced vascular adaptation whereby athletes have enlarged conduit arteries resulting from chronic endurance exercise. However, studies remain limited to males, with few evaluating changes in response to training. This study aimed to compare upper and lower limb adaptations across a 21-week competitive season between elite female and male rowers. Twenty-one athletes (females n = 10) were assessed at three timepoints across a 21-week season: early- (ES), mid- (MS), and late-season (LS). High-resolution duplex ultrasonography assessed brachial and femoral artery diameter, flow-mediated dilation (FMD%), and ischaemic hand-grip exercise (vasodilatory capacity, VD%). Data was analysed using Bayesian repeated measures ANOVA (training × sex). Th

SUBMITTER: Henley-Martin SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12446613 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature