PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the effects of aerobic exercise training frequency on arterial stiffness in postmenopausal females. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: This study included 45 postmenopausal females randomly assigned to one of the following three groups: (1) low-frequency training group (aerobic exercise training twice per week); (2) high-frequency training group (aerobic exercise training four times per week); and (3) control group (no training). Each group was subjected to an 8-week intervention period. Both traditional and newer indexes were measured immediately before and after the 8-week intervention period. RESULTS: In the low-frequency training group, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and arterial velocity pulse index decreased post 8 weeks compared with those at baseline. In the high-frequency training group, carotid-femoral, brachial-ankle, and heart-brachial pulse wave velocities and arterial velocity pulse and arterial pressure-volume indexes decreased post 8 weeks compared to those at baseline. In the control group, no change in any indices post 8 weeks compared to those at baseline was observed. CONCLUSION: Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was lower after aerobic training than before training in both the exercise groups. Thus, aerobic exercise training might have a beneficial effect on aortic stiffness, regardless of the training frequency in this population.

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