Effects of two different quadriceps strengthening exercise approaches on cardiovascular fitness in healthy female subjects: a single blind randomized study.
OBJECTIVE
There are limited number of documents showing the relations between cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength. This study aimed to determine the effects of two different quadriceps strengthening exercise approaches on cardiovascular fitness in healthy female subjects.


METHODS
Forty female university students participated in this study on a voluntary basis. The participants were randomly assigned to do either isokinetic exercise (IE) or progressive resistive exercise (PRE) in two different groups. Both training schemes were performed three times a week for a period of two weeks. The subjects were given a maximum symptom limited exercise test on a treadmill before and after (each) training period.


RESULTS
Total exercise duration increased and Borg scale level decreased significantly after training in the two groups (p < 0.05). Maximal systolic blood pressure, recovery heart rate, and recovery diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly in the IE Group (p < 0.05). Resting and recovery systolic blood pressure decreased significantly in the PRE Group (p < 0.05). Compared to PRE group, improvement for Borg Scale level, recovery heart rate and recovery diastolic blood pressure were more obvious in IE Group (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that both quadriceps strengthening methods have displayed improvements in cardiovascular fitness. Further research with larger sample groups may need to be carried out.
Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kirikkale University, Turkey. arzudaskapan@yahoo.com
Arzu
A
Daşkapan
Eda
E
Tonga
Neslihan
N
Durutürk
Emine Handan
EH
Tüzün
D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D055815:Young Adult