Cardiac autonomic responses during upper versus lower limb resistance exercise in healthy elderly men

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the cardiac autonomic responses during upper versus lower limb discontinuous resistance exercise (RE) at different loads in healthy older men. MethodTen volunteers (65±1.2 years) underwent the one-repetition maximum (1RM) test to determine the maximum load for the bench press and the leg press. Discontinuous RE was initiated at a load of 10%1RM with subsequent increases of 10% until 30%1RM, followed by increases of 5%1RM until exhaustion. Heart rate (HR) and R-R interval were recorded at rest and for 4 minutes at each load applied. Heart rate variability (HRV) was analyzed in 5-min segments at rest and at each load in the most stable 2-min signal. ResultsParasympathetic indices decreased significantly in both exercises from 30%1RM compared to rest (rMSSD: 20±2 to 11±3 and 29±5 to 12±2 ms; SD1: 15±2 to 8±1 and 23±4 to 7±1 ms, for upper and lower limb exercise respectively) and HR increased (69±4 to 90±4 bpm for upper and 66±2 to 89±1 bpm for lower). RMSM increased for upper limb exercise, but decreased for lower limb exercise (28±3 to 45±9 and 34±5 to 14±3 ms, respectively). In the frequency domain, the sympathetic (LF) and sympathovagal balance (LF/HF) indices were higher and the parasympathetic index (HF) was lower for upper limb exercise than for lower limb exercise from 35% of 1RM. ConclusionsCardiac autonomic change occurred from 30% of 1RM regardless of RE limb. However, there was more pronounced sympathetic increase and vagal decrease for upper limb exercise than for lower limb exercise. These results provide a basis for more effective prescription of RE to promote health in this population.

Cardiovascular Responses to Resistance Exercise Performed with Large and Small Muscle Mass

“…It is worth noting that R-R intervals during those phases were stable and therefore enabled heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. Previous studies have demonstrated the validity of the Polar S810i [19,26,32] to assess R-R data in comparison with traditional ECG recording. The signals were then transferred to the Polar Precision Performance Software (version 7.00, Polar Electro TM , Kempele, Finland).…”

“…Consequently, those studies failed to isolate the size of muscle mass as a determinant of CVR. In addition, considering that CVR responses are, in part, regulated by the activity of autonomic nervous system [8,21], it would be useful to verify whether differences in CVR induced by the amount of exercised muscle mass would be mediated by changes in autonomic balance [19].…”

Ultra-short-term heart rate variability during resistance exercise in the elderly

“…Recent studies evaluated the autonomic nervous HR control during steady-state aerobic exercise (10) and during dynamic resistance exercise, including upper- and lower-limb exercise in elderly subjects (10–13). Simões et al (10) analyzed the cardiac autonomic response during dynamic resistance exercise in elderly men and showed high correlation and concordance between lactate threshold and cardiac autonomic behavior.…”

Acute and training effects of resistance exercise on heart rate variability

“…Work by Machado‐Vidotti et al . () demonstrated that sympathetic modulation increased after lower‐body RT compared to upper‐body RT possibly due to the difference in load utilized for the exercises in healthy elder men.…”

“…It is clear that an increase in load, or resistance, may decrease vagal activity and increase sympathetic drive. Work by Machado-Vidotti et al (2014) demonstrated that sympathetic modulation increased after lower-body RT compared to upper-body RT possibly due to the difference in load utilized for the exercises in healthy elder men.…”