Intensity-dependent cardiopulmonary response during and after strength training

Abstract

Whereas cardiopulmonary responses are well understood in endurance training, they are rarely described in strength training. This cross-over study examined acute cardiopulmonary responses in strength training. Fourteen healthy male strength training-experienced participants (age 24.5 ± 2.9 years; BMI 24.1 ± 2.0 kg/m2) were randomly assigned into three strength training sessions (three sets of ten repetitions) with different intensities (50%, 62,5%, and 75% of the 3-Repetition Maximum) of squats in a smith machine. Cardiopulmonary (impedance cardiography, ergo-spirometry) responses were continuously monitored. During exercise period, heart rate (HR 143 ± 16 vs. 132 ± 15 vs. 129 ± 18 bpm, respectively; p < 0.01; η2p 0.54) and cardiac output (CO: 16.7 ± 3.7 vs. 14.3 ± 2.5 vs. 13.6 ± 2.4 l/min, respectively; p < 0.01; η2p 0.56) were higher at 75% of 3-RM compared to those at the other intensities. We noted similar stroke volume (SV: p = 0.08; η2p 0.18) and end-diastolic volume (EDV: p = 0.49). Ventilation (VE) was higher at 75% compared to 62.5% and 50% (44.0 ± 8.0 vs. 39.6 ± 10.4 vs. 37.6 ± 7.7 l/min, respectively; p < 0.01; η2p 0.56). Respiration rate (RR; p = .16; η2p 0.13), tidal volume (VT: p = 0.41; η2p 0.07) and oxygen uptake (VO2: p = 0.11; η2p 0.16) did not differ between intensities. High systolic and diastolic blood pressure were evident (62.5% 3-RM 197 ± 22.4/108.8 ± 13.4 mmHG). During the post-exercise period (60 s), SV, CO, VE, VO2, and VCO2 were higher (p < 0.01) than during the exercise period, and the pulmonary parameters differed markedly between intensities (VE p < 0.01; RR p < 0.01; VT p = 0.02; VO2 p < 0.01; VCO2 p < 0.01). Despite the differences in strength training intensity, the cardiopulmonary response reveals significant differences predominantly during the post-exercise period. Intensity-induced breath holding induces high blood pressure peaks and cardiopulmonary recovery effects after exercise.

Effects of whole-body electromyostimulation with different impulse intensity on blood pressure changes in hyper- and normotensive overweight people. A pilot study

“…First, we might have failed to determine peak BP during WB-EMS due to our non-continuous, phygmomanometric BP assessment (only) immediately pre- and post-exercise. However, the rapid HR and BP decreases reported after RT [e.g., ( MacDougall et al, 1985 ; Lassing et al, 2023 )] cannot be applied to WB-EMS. Thus we think that the “afterload blood pressure” determined in the present study might widely reflect MAP values during WB-EMS.…”

Cardiorespiratory synchronization under the influence of strength endurance training

“…The issue of adaptive changes in the body related to cardiorespiratory interaction is not resolved (Hackett & Chow, 2013), although a number of publications on this issue have appeared (Matos-Santos et al, 2017). The study carried out to determine the reaction of the cardiorespiratory system to power loads of different duration and intensity, which is important for predicting the risk in healthy and sick people (Lässing et al, 2023) was sufficiently significant.…”