Acute Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, And RPE Between Super Slow And Gold Standard Resistance Training

Abstract

While Super Slow resistance training (SS) has gained popularity, acute cardiovascular and perceptual responses to SS are not well understood. PURPOSE To compare blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and RPE between SS and “Gold-Standard” (GS) resistance training protocols. METHODS Twenty subjects completed 3 sessions of elbow flexion (EF) and knee extension (KE). Session-1 consisted of obtaining a 1-repetition maximum (1RM) for EF and KE followed by a familiarization trial for SS. Sessions 2 and 3 were counterbalanced with subjects completing 3 sets of SS (10 sec concentric, 5 sec eccentric per rep, 40% 1RM) and GS (2 sec concentric, 4 sec eccentric per rep, 65% 1RM). Peak HR was recorded for each set with minimum HR taken between sets after 3 min recovery. BP was taken upon arrival (following 5 min seated rest), after each set, before starting sets 2 and 3, and 2 min post set 3. RPE for active musculature were obtained 3 times per set. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA for between and within group comparisons for HR, BP and RPE. Results were considered significant at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) responses were not significantly different between SS and GS for EF or KE. However, compared to resting SBP (122 ± 11mmHg), SBP for SS and GS combined was significantly lower during EF at post set 1 (114 ± 15mmHg) and post set 3 (114 ± 16mmHg) and significantly higher during KE at post set 2 (134 ± 19mmHg) and immediately prior to set 3 (131 ± 18mmHg). DBP (SS and GS combined) was not significantly different than resting DBP for EF or KE. No significant differences were observed for minimum HR (GS vs. SS). However, peak HR was significantly different between GS and SS during EF for set 1 (GS: 144 ± 19, SS: 130 ± 18) and during KE for set 1 (GS: 138 ± 16, SS: 125 ± 22) and set 2 (GS: 145 ± 17, SS: 133 ± 24). RPE was also significantly greater during GS for EF and KE. CONCLUSIONS Even though SBP was greater for SS and GS combined during KE, comparing SS and GS revealed minimal differences in BP suggesting either would be appropriate for individuals to whom strength training is not contraindicated.