N=20, 12 weeks of stair climbing exercise training.

N=21, No exercise for 12 weeks

Stair climbing (SC) training was 12 weeks of progressive SC program. Each training session consisted of a general warm-up (5 min: slow and fast skipping, stretching) followed by the SC training and was supervised by experienced personnel. The program began with two bouts of stair climbing four days a week in weeks 1 and 2, increasing by one climb a day every three weeks. By the last three weeks (10-12) of the study, all subjects were completing 5 climbs four days a week. During each climb participants ascended 12 flights (192 steps) divided into 3 sets of 4 flights, with a 2 min rest period between each set. There was a 5 min rest period between climbs that allowed the participants to reach the ground floor using an elevator. Subjects in the non-exercising control group did not participate in a supervised exercise program for the duration of the study.

Arterial stiff ness was measured by brachial to ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV, m/s) using volume plethysmographic device (VP-1000).

BP (mmHg) was measured by volume plethysmographic device. Diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure were measured.

Muscle strength was measured by the eight repetition maximum (8RM) test using extension machine (Cyber 6000).

Body composition was measured using eight-polar tactile-electrode impedance meter (InBody 720). Body weight (kg), fat mass (kg), and fat free mass (kg) were assessed.

Height (m) was measured with a stadiometer

Heart rate was measured by ECG

BMI was calculated as weight/height^2 (kg/m^2)