Effect of Three-Month Weight Training Program on Resting Heart Rate and Blood Pressure in Healthy Young Adult Males

Abstract

Background

A planned and structured physical activity is the cornerstone of improving and sustaining body fitness. The underlying reason for exercise is personal interest, maintaining good health, or improving endurance for sports. Furthermore, exercise may be either isotonic or isometric. In weight training, different types of weight are being used and are lifted against gravity, and this type of exercise is of isotonic type.

Objective

The objective of this study was to observe the changes in heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) after a three-month weight training intervention in healthy young adult males and to compare them with age-matched healthy control.

Materials and methods

We initially recruited a total of 25 healthy male volunteers for the study and 25 age-matched participants in the control group. Research participants were screened for any existing diseases and suitability for participation by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire. We lost one participant from the study group and three participants from the control group in the follow-up. A structured weight training program (five days a week for three months) was applied for the study group with direct instruction and supervision in a controlled environment. A single expert clinician measured baseline and post-program (after three months) HR and BP (measured after 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and 24 hours of rest after exercise) to reduce any possible inter-observer variation. For comparing the pre-exercise and post-exercise parameters, we considered the post-exercise measurement, which was done after 24 hours of exercise. Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Friedman test compared the parameters.

Result

A total of 24 males with a median age of 19 years (Q1-Q3: 18-20) participated as the study group and 22 males with the same median age were the control group. At the end of the three-month weight training exercise program, there was no significant change in the HR (median 82 versus 81 bpm, p = 0.27) in the study group. The systolic BP was increased (median 116 versus 126 mmHg, p <0.0001) after three months of the weight training program. In addition, pulse pressure and mean arterial BP was also increased. However, diastolic (median 76 versus 80 mmHg, p = 0.11) BP was not significantly increased. There was no change in HR, systolic and diastolic BP in the control group.

Conclusion

A structured weight training program (used in this study) for three months may sustain an increase in systolic BP at rest in young adult males while diastolic BP remains the same. The HR remains unchanged before and after the exercise program. Hence, those enrolling in such an exercise program should be monitored frequently for changes in BP over time for any timely intervention appropriate for the candidate. However, being a small-scale study, the result of this study would be validated by further observing the underlying causes of the increment of systolic blood pressure.