This study evaluated the effect of resistance training (RT) volume on muscular strength and on indicators of abdominal adiposity, metabolic risk, and inflammation in post-menopausal women (PW). Thirty-two volunteers were randomly allocated into the following three groups: control (CT, no exercise, n = 11), low-volume RT (LV, three sets/exercise, n = 10), and high-volume RT (HV, six sets/exercise, n = 11). The LV and HV groups performed eight exercises at 70 % of one maximal repetition, three times a week, for 16 weeks. Muscular strength and indicators of abdominal adiposity, metabolic risk, and inflammation were measured at baseline and after 16 weeks. No differences were found in baseline measures between the groups. The PW showed excess weight and fat percentage (F%), large waist circumference (WC), high waist-hip ratio (WHR), and hypercholesterolemia and borderline values of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c%). Following the RT, a similar increase in muscle strength and reduction in F% from baseline were found in both trained groups. In HV, a decrease in total cholesterol, LDL-c, WC, and WHR was noted. Moreover, the HV showed a lower change (delta%) of interleukin-6 (IL-6) when compared to CT (HV = 11.2 %, P 25-75 = -7.6-28.4 % vs. CT = 99.55 %, P 25-75 = 18.5-377.0 %, p = 0.049). In LV, a decrease was noted for HbA1c%. There were positive correlations (delta%) between WHR and IL-6 and between IL-6 and TC. These results suggest that while a low-volume RT improves HbA1c%, F%, and muscular strength, a high-volume RT is necessary to improve indicators of abdominal adiposity and lipid metabolism and also prevent IL-6 increases in PW.

We studied the effects of two different resistance training (RT) multiple-set protocols (three and six sets) on muscle strength and basal hormones concentrations in postmenopausal women (PW). Thirty-four PW were randomly allocated into three groups: control (CT, n=12), low RT volume (LV = three sets for each exercise, n=10) and high RT volume (HV = six sets for each exercise, n=12). The LV and HV groups performed eight exercises of a total body RT protocol three times a week, at 70 % of one repetition maximum (1RM) for 16 weeks. The muscle strength and basal hormones concentration were measured before and after the RT. Our findings show that three sets or six sets at 70% of 1RM protocol increased muscular strength similarly after 16 weeks (sum of all exercises, LV: 37.7% and HV: 34.1% vs. CT: 2.1%, p < 0.001). Moreover, the RT volume does not affect basal levels of testosterone (TT) (LV: 0.02%, HV: -0.12% and CT: 0.006%, p = 0.233), cortisol (C) (LV: 72.4%, HV: 36.8% and CT: 16.8%, p = 0.892), insulin-like growth factor-1 (LV: 6.7%, HV: 7.3% and CT: 4.1%, p = 0.802), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (LV: 0.1%, HV: -4.5% and CT: -6.7%, p = 0.885) and TT:C ratio (LV: -0.9%, HV: -1.6% and CT: -0.4%, p = 0.429). Our results suggest that three sets and six sets at 70% of 1RM seem to promote similar muscle strength gain. Thus, three set RT is a time efficient protocol for strength gain after 16 weeks in PW.

We conclude that 8 weeks of LLRT until failure in novice young lifters, regardless of occlusion, load or volume, produces similar magnitudes of muscular hypertrophy and strength.

No abstract