Abstract
Purpose
Arterial stiffness, expedited wave reflection, and autonomic dysfunction are risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death in women in the United States. Evaluation of the effects of resistance training on these factors has been inconclusive, and even less is known about the effects of high-intensity resistance training (HIRT). This study evaluated the effects of a 4-week HIRT intervention on central arterial stiffness, wave reflection, and heart rate variability in young healthy and active women.
Methods
9 women were recruited and underwent a 4-week control period followed by the intervention. Measurements were recorded pre-control, post-control/pre-intervention, and post-intervention.
Results
There were no significant changes to central arterial stiffness, wave reflection, or heart rate variability. There was a significant increase in resting heart rate (bpm: 62 ± 7, 66 ± 10; p = 0.003) and a significant decrease in baroreceptor sensitivity (30 ± 7, 21 ± 7; p = 0.018) pre- to post-intervention. There was a significant decrease in total peripheral resistance pre- to post-intervention (1.076 ± 0.281, 0.916 ± 0.250; p = 0.002). Squat, bench press, and deadlift increased pre- to post-intervention (kg: 62 ± 11, 71 ± 9, p = 0.000; 37 ± 7, 40 ± 7, p = 0.002; 76 ± 19, 84 ± 19, p = 0.000).
Conclusion
4 weeks of HIRT can supplement a healthy lifestyle in women by increasing strength while decreasing peripheral resistance and preserving arterial pressures. Further evaluation is necessary to investigate the observed increase in resting heart rate and decrease in baroreceptor sensitivity and to determine long-term effects of this training.
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Availability of data and material
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Code availability
SPSS software version 27 (SPSS Inc. Chicago IL, US).
Abbreviations
- 1RM:
-
1-Repetition maximum effort
- Aix:
-
Augmentation index
- AIx75:
-
Augmentation index normalized to a heart rate of 75 beats per minute
- ANOVA:
-
Repeated measure one-way analysis of variance
- BMD:
-
Bone mineral density
- BMI:
-
Body mass index
- DXA:
-
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry
- FFM:
-
Fat-free mass
- FM:
-
Fat mass
- GHR:
-
Glute-ham raise
- HF:
-
High frequency
- High-Pull:
-
Barbell high-pull
- HIRT:
-
High-intensity resistance training
- LF:
-
Low frequency
- LF:HF:
-
Low frequency to high frequency ratio
- PWV:
-
Pulse wave velocity
- RDL:
-
Romanian deadlift
- RMSSD:
-
Root mean square of successive R–R interval differences
- TP:
-
Total power
- VLF:
-
Very low frequency
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Acknowledgements
Funding for this study was provided by the Appalachian State University Office of Student Research. We would also like to acknowledge Mr. Nolasco Stevens Jr for his assistance during training procedures.
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SG, SC, TT, and DF conceived and designed the research study and resistance training protocol. SG and DF conducted an experiment and supervised intervention. MM and KF assisted with the functionality of standard operating procedures and revisions. All authors read and approved the manuscript.
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The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose relative to the results of this study. The results of the study are presented clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data omission.
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This study was reviewed and approved by the Appalachian State Institutional Review Board and was performed in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and later amendments.
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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
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Communicated by Ellen Adele Dawson.
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Gaynor-Metzinger, S.H.A., Triplett, N.T., Meucci, M. et al. Central arterial stiffness, wave reflection, and heart rate variability following 4-week high-intensity resistance training intervention in young active women. Eur J Appl Physiol 122, 2283–2293 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-022-05003-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-022-05003-4