Hemodynamic responses to resistance training are of utmost importance in a population to whom these variables, especially high blood pressure, can be harmful. On the other hand, proper dosing will improve their health. Therefore, the current study aimed at comparing hemodynamic responses of the cardiovascular system to a high load with few repetitions (RM10) versus a low load and many repetitions (RM20).
Eleven females and thirteen males took part in the study. All were trained, their mean age was 24.9±3.3 years, and BMI level was 22.7±2.6, 23.7± 2.6, respectively. In the first phase, RM1 was calculated and accordingly the load at RM10 and RM20 per person tested. In the second phase, each subject performed 4 sets of 10 and 20 repetitions randomly with 3 minutes of recovery between each set. Blood pressure, heart rate, and lactate measurements were taken at rest, at the beginning and end of each set and 3 and 5 minutes during recovery.
Data analysis showed that values of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean blood pressure, and double product were significantly higher at RM20 than in RM10 (p0.001, p=0.028). The findings indicated that the time under pressure has a greater effect than the absolute and relative loads on the hemodynamic responses during resistance training. This assumption is particularly significant for hypertensive patients. Future studies are needed to confirm this assumption.
Keywords: blood pressure, double product, lactate, hemodynamic responses.