title: Effect of elastic-band-based resistance training on leg blood flow in elderly women.
abstract: The age-related decline in basal limb blood flow appears to be related to the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome, noninsulin-dependent diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Resistance training improves basal limb blood flow and vascular conductance in middle-aged men and women, but it is unknown whether similar vascular effects of training occur in the elderly. This study aimed to examine the effects of a 12-week progressive resistance training program using elastic bands on basal leg blood flow, vascular conductance, and functional performance in postmenopausal elderly women. Sixteen healthy postmenopausal females (age, 67 ± 5 years) were randomly assigned to a control (n = 8) or resistance training (n = 8) group, where they underwent 2 supervised strength sessions per week for 12 weeks. Prior to and at completion of this 12-week period, functional and strength performance and leg haemodynamic responses were measured. The training intervention produced significant increases in basal leg blood flow (31%), vascular conductance (34%), and a significant reduction in cardiac work (i.e., rate pressure product) at rest, as well as significant improvements in the 3 functional ability tests performed (30-s bicep curl, 30-s sit to stand, and back scratch). Haemodynamic or functional performance responses were not altered after the 12 weeks in the control group. This study demonstrates that a resistance training program using elastic bands elicits significant improvements in basal leg blood flow in postmenopausal elderly women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. megana@tcd.ie
authors.forename: Mikel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Egaña
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D017698:Postmenopause; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D018924:Vascular Capacitance / Q000502:physiology; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology