Session Perceived Exertion Following Traditional and Circuit Resistance Exercise Methods in Older Hypertensive Women.

This study compared session ratings of perceived exertion (SRPE) between traditional multiple-set (TR) and circuit (CI) resistance exercise methods in treated hypertensive women. Fourteen volunteers (69.9 ± 5.6 years) performed two training sessions (TR and CI) in a random order, with the same number of sets, exercises, and loads. SRPE was obtained 30 minutes following each session using Foster's scale. OMNI-resistance exercise scale (OMNI-RES) measures were subsequently taken. Foster's SRPE was not significantly different between sessions (3.8 ± 0.9 TR vs. 3.4 ± 1.0 CI; p = .125), but OMNI-RES values were significantly higher following TR than following CI (5.2 ± 1.3 vs. 4.6 ± 1.5; p = .033). Total session duration was longer for TR (29.3 ± 1.2 vs. 20.0 ± 0.9 minutes; p < .001). Using moderate loads, the CI method did not elicit higher SRPE when compared with TR. Conversely, significantly lower OMNI-RES values follow CI. These results will be useful for prescribing exercise regimens for older hypertensive women.

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

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of resistance exercise (RE) on autonomic control and blood pressure (BP) reactivity during mental stress (MS) in treated older hypertensive women. METHODS: Ten older hypertensive women (age =71.1±5.5 years; body mass index =24.2±3.9; mean BP [MBP] =85.4±3.5) underwent a protocol consisting of BP and heart rate variability (HRV) output assessments at baseline and during MS, and these measurements were taken before and 60 minutes after two bouts of RE (traditional and circuit). MS was induced through a computerized 3-minute Stroop color-word test before and 1 hour after each exercise session; BP was measured every minute during MS, and HRV was monitored as a measure of cardiac autonomic control. RESULTS: A significant effect of time on systolic BP (Δpre =17.4±12.8 versus Δpost =12.5±9.6; P=0.01), diastolic BP (Δpre =13.7±7.1 versus Δpost =8.8±4.5; P=0.01), and MBP (Δpre =14.0±7.7 versus Δpost =9.3±5.4; P<0.01) after RE was observed, with no differences between the two sessions. In addition, a significant effect of time on log-normalized low-frequency component of HRV (ms2; 5.3±0.8 pre-exercise MS versus 4.8±1.0 baseline value; P=0.023) was also observed, showing a significant change from baseline to MS before RE, but not after RE sessions. These results may be related to a lessened RE-mediated cardiac sympathetic activity during MS. CONCLUSION: RE is an effective tool to reduce BP reactivity to MS, which could therefore be associated with an acute reduction in cardiovascular risk. This result presents relevant clinical implications, combining previous evidence that recommends this exercise modality as an important component of an exercise program designed for the older and hypertensive subjects.

Effects of resistance training on sarcopenic obesity index in older women: A randomized controlled trial.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of resistance training (RT) on sarcopenic obesity (SO) in older women. 243 older women underwent body composition measurement using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and the SO index was calculated. This randomized controlled trial adopted from the baseline sample, 113 volunteers (67.0±5.2years) were randomly assigned to a control group (CG, n=64) or an experimental group (EG, n=69). The EG took part in a 24-week RT program, conducted three times per week. Body composition measurements were repeated at the end of the training program. RT induced a significant increase in fat-free mass (P<0.01), but not decrease in fat mass in the EG. Moreover, the SO index was also significantly improved in the EG (P<0.01), while it decreased significantly in the CG (P<0.01). It is concluded that RT is an effective approach to promote body composition alterations in older women, and it might improve SO-related phenotypes.

Resistance training improves isokinetic strength and metabolic syndrome-related phenotypes in postmenopausal women.

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of resistance training (RT) on metabolic syndrome-related phenotypes in postmenopausal women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two postmenopausal women (65.0±4.2 years) underwent 12 weeks of whole body progressive training with intensity prescribed based on rating of perceived exertion. Dominant knee extension strength was assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer before and after the intervention. Moreover, all volunteers had blood samples collected for lipid profile, glycemic control, and C-reactive protein analyses. Waist circumference and arterial blood pressure were also measured at baseline and after the training period. Student's t-tests for paired samples and repeated measures ANOVA were used to compare dependent variables, and statistical significance was set at P<0.05. RESULTS: Isokinetic muscle strength significantly increased (P<0.01) with training. It was observed that waist circumference as well as total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels significantly decreased with training (P<0.01). Total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, an important marker of cardiovascular disease incidence, was also significantly reduced (from 3.91±0.91 to 3.60±0.74; P<0.01) after the program. Blood glucose, basal insulin, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance were also significantly reduced (P<0.01). No significant alterations were observed for resting blood pressure, triglycerides, or C-reactive protein. CONCLUSION: Based on the observed results, it can be concluded that a 12-week progressive RT program, besides increasing isokinetic muscle strength, induces beneficial alterations on metabolic syndrome-related phenotypes in postmenopausal women. These findings highlight this mode of exercise as an important component of public health promotion programs for aged women. RT improves isokinetic strength and metabolic syndrome-related phenotypes in postmenopausal women.

Strength, muscle quality and markers of cardiometabolic risk in older women / Força, qualidade muscular e marcadores de risco cardiometabólico em mulheres idosas

Abstract The aging process is associated with a decline in physiological functions, including a reduction in muscle quality, as well as changes in cardiometabolic risk factors. Thus, the aim of this study was to verify if a correlation exists between muscle strength and quality and cardiometabolic risk markers in older women. Thirty older women (66.13±5.26 years, 67.33±12.45 kg, 1.54±0.07 m, body mass index: 28.20±4.72) were submitted to the evaluation of muscle thickness and strength and blood analysis of cardiometabolic risk markers (glucose, basal insulin, C-reactive protein, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and HOMA-IR). No significant correlations were found between muscle phenotypes and markers of cardiometabolic risk, even after adjustment for confounding factors. The present study indicates that muscle strength or quality is not correlated with markers of cardiometabolic risk.

Resumo O processo de envelhecimento está associado a um declínio nas funções fisiológicas, refletindo em reduções na qualidade muscular, bem como em alterações de marcadores de risco cardiometabólico. Nesse sentido, o objetivo do estudo foi verificar a associação entre qualidade muscular e marcadores de risco cardiometabólico em mulheres idosas. Trinta mulheres idosas (66,13±5,26 anos, 67,33±12,45 kg, 1,54±0,07 m, 28,20±4,72 IMC) foram submetidas à avaliação da espessura e força musculares do quadríceps, e à análise sanguínea de marcadores de risco cardiometabólico (glicemia, insulina basal, proteína C-reativa, colesterol total, HDL-colesterol, LDL-colesterol, VLDL-colesterol, triglicerídeos, e índice HOMA-IR). Não foram encontradas correlações significativas entre os fenótipos musculares e os marcadores de risco cardiometabólico estudados, mesmo com controle para fatores de confusão. A presente pesquisa indica não haver correlação entre força e qualidade muscular com os marcadores de risco cardiometabólico estudados.