HEAVY RESISTANCE STRENGTH TRAINING IMPROVES CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSES TO WEIGHT LOADED WALKING IN CARDIAC REHABILITATION PARTICIPANTS

Abstract

Moderate to heavy levels of strength training have been shown to improve muscular strength individuals with cardiovascular disease. However, data is sparse concerning the effects of heavy resistance strength training (HRST) on cardiovascular responses to activities of daily living in this population. PURPOSE To examine the effects of HRST on 1RM strength and cardiovascular responses to weight loaded walk testing (WLWT) in male (n=21; 65 ± 7 yr; 92 ± 16 kg) and female (n=12; 67 ± 8 yr; 74 ± 8 kg) Phase III/IV Cardiac Rehabilitation Participants. METHODS After baseline testing, subjects performed either one set or two sets of whole body HRST twice per week for eight weeks (ST; n=20). Each set of HRST began with a 5 RM resistance, and was gradually lowered until 10 repetitions could be completed. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), rate-pressure product (RPP), oxygen saturation (O2 sat), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were assessed during individualized, incremental WLWT before and after HRST. WLWT data for the ST group were compared to a control group (CON; n=13) performing eight weeks of aerobic training only. RESULTS Significant increases in 1 RM were observed for all exercises after HRST regardless of training volume (all p < 0.001). The ST group displayed lower systolic BP responses to the first three stages of WLWT (all p < 0.05) after HRST, while RPP was lower during stages one, two, and four (all p ≤ 0.05). HRST did not induce significant changes in O2 sat or RPE during WLWT in the ST group. In comparison, there were no significant changes in the CON group for any variable measured during WLWT over a similar time span. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that one set of HRST is as effective as two sets for improving muscular strength and cardiovascular responses to WLWT in individuals with cardiovascular disease.