INFLUENCE OF LOAD INTENSITY ON POSTEXERCISE HYPOTENSION AND HEART RATE VARIABILITY AFTER A STRENGTH TRAINING SESSION

Figueiredo, T, Willardson, JM, Miranda, H, Bentes, CM, Reis, VM, and Simao, R. Influence of load intensity on postexercise hypotension and heart rate variability after a strength training session. J Strength Cond Res 29( 10): 2941-2948, 2015- The purpose of this study was to compare blood pressure and heart rate variability ( HRV) responses in trained men after strength training ( ST) sessions with loads of 60, 70, and 80% of a 1 repetition maximum ( 1RM). Eleven men ( age: 26.1 +/- 6 3.6 years; body mass: 74.1 +/- 6 8.1 kg; height: 172.0 +/- 6 4.0 cm; body mass index: 25.0 +/- 6 1.96 kg center dot m-2; % G: 18.3 +/- 6 6.4) with at least 6- month ST experience participated in this study. After assessment of 1RM loads for the bench press ( BP), lat pulldown ( LPD), shoulder press ( SP), biceps curl ( BC), triceps extension ( TE), leg press ( LP), leg extension ( LE), and leg curl ( LC), subjects performed 3 experimental sessions in random order. During each experimental session, subjects performed 3 sets of 8- 10 repetitions at 60, 70, or 80% of 1RM loads, with 2minute rest intervals between sets and exercises. All experimental sessions were performed in the following exercise order: BP, LPD, SP, BC, TE, LP, LE, and LC. Before and for 1 hour after each experimental session, blood pressure and HRV were tracked. The results demonstrated a greater duration of postexercise hypotension ( PEH) after the 70% of 1RM session vs. the 60 or 80% of 1RM session. These results indicate that the load/ volume associated with completion of 8- 10 repetitions at 70% of 1RM load may provide the best stimulus for the PEH response when compared with training with a 60 or 80% of 1RM loads. In conclusion, strength and conditioning professionals may prescribe exercises with 60, 70, and 80% of 1RM loads if the intent is to elicit an acute decrease in blood pressure after an ST session; however, 70% of 1RM provides a longer PEH.