Effect of two different weekly resistance training frequencies on muscle strength and blood pressure in normotensive older women

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of two different weekly resistance training (RT) frequencies on muscle strength and blood pressure (BP) in normotensive older women. Thirty normotensive and physically independent older women participated in the study, which were divided into two groups: RT performed in two weekly sessions (G2X, n = 17; 67.6 ± 4.6 years; 69.7 ± 13.4 kg; 156.6 ± 5.8 cm) and three weekly sessions (G3X; n = 13; 68.7 ± 5.0 years; 69.8 ± 16.1 kg, 155.2 ± 7.8 cm). The RT program was composed by eight exercises for different muscle groups (upper limbs, trunk and lower limbs), lasting 24 weeks (two phases of 12 weeks each). In the first phase, exercises were performed in one set of 10-15 maximum repetitions per exercise, while in the second phase, two sets were performed. BP and muscle strength (1RM) measures were performed at pre-training and after 12 and 24 weeks of RT. Increases in total muscle strength (P < 0.05) were observed in both groups (G2X = 16.8% and G3X = 18.9%), with no difference between groups. On the other hand, no significant changes (P > 0.05) in systolic BP and diastolic BP were found in both groups. The results suggest that 24 weeks of a supervised RT program improve muscle strength without affecting BP in normotensive older women, regardless of frequency of two or three weekly sessions.