Effect of Short Term Resistance and Endurance Exercise Training on Resting Heart Rate and Inflammatory Marker in Young Adults: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: In a normal healthy adult, sympathetic and parasympathetic system should be in synergy. Measuring resting heart rate is a one of the methods to assess health condition. It can be affected by different factors such as exercise, mental health, any disease, etc. Normal subjects with reduced heart rate are associated with better cardiovascular health. Physical inactivity is associated with high level of inflammatory markers. Increased inflammatory markers are related to inflammation and chronic diseases. The C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is a biomarker of inflammatory diseases. High CRP level is a potent risk factor for obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, etc. Aim: To study the effect of short term resistance and endurance exercise training on resting heart rate in healthy young adults, CRP, Body Mass Index (BMI) and also to compare the changes between two exercise groups. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2019 to May 2020 in the Department of Physiology at King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. The study included 60 healthy young adults with normal BMI (18.5-24.9 kg/m2) and age between 18-25 years. Subjects were equally divided into Group I- Resistance exercise and Group II endurance groups. Subjects did moderate intensity exercise (based on maximum heart rate) for five days in a week for eight weeks. Endurance group did jogging. Resistance group did push-up, pull-up and squats. Target heart rate during moderate intensity of activities was 64-76% of maximum heart rate. Heart rate measurement was done before the start of exercise and after five to seven minutes of exercise when it reached 64-76% of maximum heart rate. It was measured by pulse oximeter. Follow-up was done after eight weeks of exercise training in both the groups. Evaluation was done by comparing resting heart rate and CRP level before the start of training and after the completion of training programme. Statistical analysis was done using student t-test and paired t-test. Results: Mean age of subjects of group I was found to be higher (19.98±1.26 years) as compared to group II (19.97±0.98 years). Mean pre intervention BMI of both the groups was found to be similar (21.97±1.78 kg/m2). No statistically significant change in resting heart rate was found in both resistance group (p=0.096) and endurance group (p=0.326) after exercise training. Statistically significant increase in CRP was found in resistance group (p<0.001) and endurance group (p<0.001). The increment in CRP was more in endurance group (55.04%) than resistance group (35.34%). Conclusion: Short duration of exercises increase inflammation but no significant effect on resting heart rate was seen.