Introduction: Aging affects macro and microvessels. The aim of present work was to determine if regular physical training could diminish age related changes in cardiovascular system and vascular reactivity.

Methods: Heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), total peripheral resistance (TPR) and laser-Doppler flux (LDF) were monitored at rest and during cooling of one hand for six minutes at 15°C. We examined four groups of subjects: young healthy trained (YT, 22.8±0.4 years) (N=11), young sedentary (YS, 23.3±0.3 years) (N=11), elderly healthy trained (ET, 50.6±1.0 years) (N=12) and elderly sedentary subjects (ES, 47.7±0.9 years) (N=11).

Results: There were statistically significant differences in HR, DBP, SV, CO and TRP among groups at rest. However, resting LDF did not vary among groups. During cooling there was significantly smaller LDF decrease in the group of ES (70.38 ± 6.0 % of precooling value) when compared to the YS (41.23 ± 7.6 %) (Dunnett’s test, p < 0.01). In contrast, there was no significant difference in LDF response to cold in YT (49.60 ± 9.3 %) and ET (53.65 ± 8.2).

Conclusions: Physical training partially prevents changes in cardiovascular function and microvascular reactivity in the elderly subjects. HR and SBP did not rise with ages as did DBP and TRP. Training prevented falling in SV but not in CO. HR was significantly lower in ET than YT. Training successfully prevented decrease in cutaneous microvascular response to cold in the elderly.