Acute cardiovascular responses to multiple sets of high-velocity resistance exercise in healthy adults

Abstract

The aim of this study is examining the effects of multiple sets of high-velocity resistance exercise (HVRE) on cardiovascular responses. Fifteen healthy adult men participated in two experimental sessions: one comprised three sets of resistance exercise performed against high-intensity resistance exercise (HIRE) at low velocity and the other three sets of HVRE performed against reduced load at high velocity. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO) during both sessions were evaluated using impedance electrocardiography. The increases in BP, HR and CO were significantly lowered during HVRE compared with HIRE (p < 0.05). In contrast, there was no significant difference in SV between sessions (p > 0.05). This study suggested that the increases in BP and CO during HVRE were lower than those during HIRE although HVRE required performing fast movement. HVRE might be applied to patients for whom HIRE is contraindicated because of cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords: Resistance training; blood pressure; cardiac output; impedance electrocardiography; rehabilitation.