Acute cardiovascular and hemodynamic effects of set configuration of resistance training

Abstract

Resistance exercise is characterised by a sharp rise in systolic blood pressure during exercise, and by reductions in cardiac parasympathetic control and baroreflex sensitivity with a concomitant hypotensive effect after exercise. This thesis aims to explore the effects of two moderate-intensity whole‑body resistance training protocols differing in set configurations on those parameters. Long set configuration consisted of 4 sets of 10 repetitions with 2 min of rest between sets, while short set configuration consisted of 8 sets of 5 repetitions with a rest of 51 s between sets. Between exercises, both protocols rested 3 min. The results showed that during exercise, both structures produced similar increases in blood pressure. However, lower peaks of blood pressure were elicited in the last repetitions with the short configuration, also triggering a lower chronotropic response and less myocardial work. In addition, short sets promoted less lactatemia and smaller mechanical performance loss. Upon session completion, both designs promoted reductions in cardiac parasympathetic modulation, with a least withdrawal for the short set configuration. Neither design promoted changes in sympathetic vascular tone nor post-exercise hypotension. In conclusion, short set configurations result in a less cardiovascular compromise during and after exercise for healthy young individuals, resulting in safer designs.