Cardiovascular Adaptations to Resistance Training in Elderly Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of resistance training on resting blood pressure and heart rate variability in elderly postmenopausal women. 29 untrained, non-hypertensive elderly women were randomly assigned to 2 groups: an intervention group (n=15, 65.5±5.0 years, 57.3±6.5 kg, 156.7±5.1 cm) that underwent a supervised resistance training program (8 exercises, 2 sets, 10-15 repetitions, 3 times/week) or a control group (n=14, 66.2±4.1 years, 61.1±11.7 kg, 157.5±7.1 cm) that participated in a supervised stretching program (25-30 min/session, 2 times/week). Resting auscultatory blood pressure, heart rate variability, evaluated from short recordings in a seated position, and maximal dynamic strength (1-RM test) were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks. A group x time ANOVA revealed that muscular strength increased significantly in the resistance training group (+ 10.2% for bench press and +12.7% for leg extension, P<0.05). Systolic blood pressure was reduced significantly in the resistance training group from pre- to post-intervention period (- 5 mmHg; P<0.05), while no significant effect was noted for diastolic blood pressure and heart rate variability indexes (P>0.05). None of these variables changed in the control group throughout the study. In conclusion, a supervised resistance training program improved muscular strength and reduced systolic blood pressure without affecting diastolic blood pressure and heart rate variability in elderly postmenopausal women.

Effect of traditional resistance training on blood pressure in normotensive elderly persons: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses

“…Of the 29 remaining studies, 23 were excluded because they presented inadequate or non-existent information on randomization or because they presented outcomes that did not meet the specific objectives of this study (Figure 1). Thus, six studies were included in this review [26][27][28][29][30][31] .…”

Resistance Training and Autonomic Modulation in the Elderly

“…Previous studies have found changes in HRV indices according to Gerage et al [32] (HF, LF, LF / HF, RMSSD, SDNN, SD1 and SD2); Wanderley et al [33 ] (HF and SDRR); Madden et al [30] (% RR50, RMSSD, SD, SDANN and SDNN); Melo et al [31] (RMSSD, TP, LF and HF. However, Madden et al [30] observed a significant increase of the total variance and Melo et al [31] found an increase in LF values in standard and LF/HF units, also decrease in HF values in normalized units.…”

“…With respect to the chronic effect, most studies found no significant adaptations of resting HR to resistance training [29][30][31][32][33] . Chronic reductions in resting HR were observed only by Wood et al [34] , and HR during submaximal exercise by Hunter et al [35,36] , but all with low percentage of variation (2 to 6%).…”

“…Regarding the effect of resistance training on cardiac SNA, some studies have found changes that pointed to significant improvements on the HRV indices [30][31][32][33]65] . However, Madden et al [30] observed a significant increase over the total variance and Melo et al [31] observed increased LFnu values and LF/HF, with a reduction in HFnu values.…”

“…Gerage et al [32] studied menopausalolder women and found that HRV did not change after 12 weeks of resistance training. This corroborates the studies of Madden et al [30] and Wanderey et al [33] , suggesting that resistance training can improve muscle strength, without causing a reduction in HRV.…”