Cardiac Work Remains High after Strength Exercise in Elderly

Abstract

Moderate- to high-intensity strength training is recommended for healthy adults. In young subjects, a single session of strength training decreases blood pressure, while heart rate and cardiac work remain elevated afterwards. However, these effects have not been clearly demonstrated in elderly subjects. To investigate this issue, 16 elderly subjects each underwent a Control and an Exercise (3 sets, 8 RM, 9 exercises) session conducted in random order. Haemodynamic variables and heart rate variability were measured before and after the interventions. Systolic blood pressure did not change after the exercise session but did increase after the control session (+8.1±1.6 mm Hg, P≤0.05). Diastolic blood pressure, as well as systemic vascular resistance increased similarly after both sessions. Cardiac output and stroke volume decreased, while heart rate, rate-pressure product and the low- to high-frequency ratio of heart rate variability increased only after the exercise session ( - 0.5±0.1 L/min, - 9.3±2.0 ml,+3.8±1.6 bpm, +579.3±164.1 mmHg.bpm and +0.71±0.34, P≤0.05). Ambulatory blood pressure was similar after both sessions, while heart rate and rate pressure product remained higher after the exercise session for up to 4.5 h. After a single session of strength training, cardiac sympathetic modulation and heart rate remain elevated in elderly subjects, keeping cardiac work elevated for a long period of time.

Gender Influence on Post-resistance Exercise Hypotension and Hemodynamics

“…These aspects might explain why heart rate remained elevated after the resistance exercise in men. In addition, although men have higher barorefl ex sensitivity to blood pressure decreases than women [ 26 ] , exercise has been shown to decrease barorefl ex sensitivity [ 21 ] , which might explain the inability of heart rate to adequately increase parallel to the decrease in stroke volume and blood pressure in the men. Nevertheless, these are just hypotheses that should be addressed in future researches, since the autonomic control was not evaluated in the present study.…”

Blood pressure reactivity to mental stress is attenuated following resistance exercise in older hypertensive women

“…Despite evidence regarding the occurrence of post-RE hypotension in older42,43 and hypertensive individuals,44,45 it is important to consider that the magnitude of BP changes in the postexercise period may directly be associated with higher pre-exercise BP levels,46 which was not the case in the present sample. Moreover, as suggested by West et al16 and observed in previous reports,47,48 anticipation of the upcoming stress test may prevent any significant BP reductions after exercise.…”

Gender Differences in Heart Rate Variability Among Individuals Undergoing Regular Resistance Training: Preliminary observations

“…14 Another study evaluating HRV among elderly subjects found that cardiac sympathetic modulation and heart rate remained elevated for a long period of time after a single session of strength training. 15 It is important to highlight certain limitations of this preliminary cross-sectional study. First, the effect of resistance training on the sympathetic drive and sympathovagal balance was analysed over a limited period of time.…”