Comparison of the effects of short-term stair climbing and walking exercise on vascular function in healthy young adults

Stair climbing is a form of physical activity that can be easily accessible in worksites and public settings, but it remains unclear whether stair climbing exercise is more effective in improving vascular health than walking exercise. The aim of this study was to compare the short-term effects of stair climbing exercise and walking exercise on vascular function in healthy young adults. Eighteen healthy adults were randomized to either the stair climbing exercise group (n=10) or the walking exercise group (n=8). The stair climbing exercise was performed inside a building, while the walking exercise involved a brisk walking exercise on the treadmill at the same exercise intensity (50-60% of heart rate reserve) for 2 weeks, 30 min/day, and 3 times/week. Peak oxygen uptake was measured by maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (c-f PWV) and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) as indexes of vascular function were measured using applanation tonometry and ultrasound machine, respectively. These variables were measured at baseline and again after 2 weeks of supervised exercise in both groups. FMD improved similarly in both groups (stair climbing: 11.5±2.2 to 14.3±2.4%, walking: 10.8±1.3 to 12.1±2.9%, time effect: p<0.05). However, an improvement in c-f PWV did not reach statistical significance in both groups (stair climbing: 6.83±0.8 to 6.40±0.88 m/s, walking: 6.61±0.8 to 6.46±0.85 m/s, p=0.051). No changes in peak oxygen uptake were observed in any group (stair climbing: 35.47±7.83 to 37.03±8.26 mL/kg/min, walking: 37.46±5.21 to 38.33±6.73 mL.kg/min, p=0.726). These findings suggest that both short-term stair climbing and treadmill walking exercises were comparatively effective in improving conduit artery endothelial function in healthy young adults.