Autonomic Modulation in Older Women: Using Resistance Exercise as a Countermeasure.
It is unclear if resistance training (RT) can be used to alter declines in autonomic modulation associated with aging. Young women (YW; range 18-25 yrs) and older women (OW; range 50-72 yrs) were compared at baseline. Only OW underwent supervised RT 2 days a week for 12-weeks. Baseline and post-training measurements included heart rate variability (HRV) and complexity (Sample Entropy) to assess autonomic modulation. The 12-weeks of RT consisted of 9 exercises performing 3 sets of 8-12 repetitions. At baseline, group differences in maximal strength, and autonomic modulation were evaluated with a one-way ANOVA with BMI as a covariate. In the OW, the effects of RT were evaluated with repeated-measures ANOVA in order to compare baseline to after RT. The YW had significantly (p≤0.05) lower diastolic, but not systolic blood pressure. The YW also had significantly (p≤0.05) greater absolute Ln (natural logarithm) high-frequency (HF) power and normalized HF power compared to the OW. In addition, there were significantly (p≤0.05) greater levels of normalized low-frequency power (LF) (and the LF/HF ratio) in the OW compared to the YW before RT. However, no difference was found for Sample Entropy. After RT, OW significantly (p≤0.05) increased the chest press (28%) and leg extension (33%). RT had no significant effect on any autonomic parameter suggesting that it may not be a sufficient stimulus to alter the effects of aging.
Cardiovascular Dynamics Laboratory, Kent State University, Kent OH, USA; Kinesiology, Health, and Sport Science, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana PA, USA.
Hayden
H
Gerhart
Cardiovascular Dynamics Laboratory, Kent State University, Kent OH, USA.
Yu Lun
YL
Tai
Cardiovascular Dynamics Laboratory, Kent State University, Kent OH, USA; University of Montevallo, Montevallo AL, USA.
Curtis
C
Fennell
Cardiovascular Dynamics Laboratory, Kent State University, Kent OH, USA; University A Coruña, Coruña SPAIN.
Xián
X
Mayo
Cardiovascular Dynamics Laboratory, Kent State University, Kent OH, USA.
J Derek
JD
Kingsley
Vagal modulation; heart rate complexity; heart rate variability; strength training; sympathetic activity