Acute cardiovascular responses of postmenopausal women to resistance training sessions differing in set configuration: A study protocol for a crossover trial
Fecha
2024Resumen
Background
Resistance training is hardly recommended for postmenopausal women to counteract negative
effects of hormonal changes. However, some concern exists about the marked hemodynamic
responses caused by high-load resistance exercises. In this regard, studies on
young, healthy, physically active individuals suggest that set configuration can modulate
acute cardiovascular, metabolic, and cardiac autonomic responses caused by resistance
training sessions, but this has not yet been explored in postmenopausal women.
Methods
A sample of 60 physically active postmenopausal women (30 normotensive, 30 hypertensive)
will participate in this crossover study. After a medical exam, ergometry, familiarization
session, and two testing sessions, participants will complete three experimental sessions
and one control session in a randomized order. Each experimental session includes 36 repetitions
of four exercises (horizontal leg press, bench press, prone leg curl, and lat pulldown)
differing in set configuration: 9 sets of 4 repetitions (i.e., 33% intensity of effort) with
45 s of inter-set recovery, 6 sets of 6 repetitions (50% intensity of effort) with 72 s, and 4 sets
of 9 repetitions (75% intensity of effort) with 120 s; with 4 min rest between exercises. Before
and immediately after each session, arterial stiffness, hemodynamic variables, cardiac autonomic
modulation, baroreflex sensitivity, sympathetic vasomotor tone, and resting oxygen
uptake will be evaluated. Furthermore, perceived effort, mechanical performance (e.g.,
power, velocity), heart rate, and lactatemia will be collected throughout sessions. The
impact of set configuration on these variables will be analyzed, along with comparisons
between normotensive and hypertensive women. Discussion
Cardiovascular responses to resistance exercise have been scarcely studied in females,
particularly postmenopausal women. The results of this study will provide information about
the modulating role of set structure on metabolic and cardiovascular responses of normotensive
and hypertensive postmenopausal women to resistance training.