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Cardiovascular Adaptations to Resistance Exercise: Effect of Set Configuration on Postmenopausal Women

Not Applicable
Active, not recruiting
Conditions
Postmenopausal
Hypertension
Interventions
Other: Short set configuration resistance training
Other: Long set configuration resistance training
Registration Number
NCT05544357
Lead Sponsor
Universidade da Coruña
Brief Summary

The main purpose of this project is to analyze the effect of set configuration of resistance exercise on cardiovascular responses and adaptations of postmenopausal women. Additionally, since previous studies have shown that individual´s blood pressure level can influence on the impact of resistance training programs on cardiovascular changes, we aim to contrast acute and chronic changes to resistance training programs in normotensive and hypertensive postmenopausal women.

Detailed Description

Menopause causes hormonal changes that affect to acute and chronic physiological responses to exercise of postmenopausal women. In this regard, studies about the cardiovascular responses to resistance training in women are scarce, being particularly relevant to identify those load parameters that modulate these adaptations. Previous studies have identified that set configuration of muscular exercise influence on cardiovascular stress, albeit these results have been mainly obtained in healthy young male subjects.

The project is divided into two studies. The first one is devoted to contrast the acute effect of three resistance training sessions with the same volume, intensity, length a work-to-rest ratio, but differing in set configuration. Thus, a sample of 60 postmenopausal women (30 normotensive and 30 hypotensive) will be recruited in local sport facilities in order to carry out in a randomized order three experimental sessions and a control session. Before and after each session hemodynamic (systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure), cardiac performance (heart rate, cardiac output, stroke volume among others), cardiac and vascular autonomic modulation (hear rate and blood pressure variability), baroreflex effectiveness (baroreflex sensitivity), neuromuscular fatigue, arterial stiffness and metabolic (lactate concentrations) responses and resting energy expenditure (oxygen consumption) will be evaluated. This first analysis will allow us to identify the two set configurations with the highest and the lowest cardiovascular stress respectively, being these exercise structures used in the second study, in which the effect of 12 weeks resistance training programs differing in set configuration will be contrasted. To do this, a sample of 40 postmenopausal women will be randomly assigned to a control group and to two resistance training programs (higher and lower set configuration respectively) which be carried out throughout 12 weeks with a frequency of 2 session per week. Training loads will be readjusted every four weeks. Before and after the training programs and after a 4 weeks follow-up period the following components will be evaluated: body composition by bioimpedance, muscular thickness by echography, neuromuscular performance (isokinetic torque-velocity and power-velocity relationship), resting metabolic rate by indirect calorimetry, foot bone mineral density, beat-to-beat blood pressure by photoplethysmography, cardiac performance by impedance cardiography , cardiac autonomic modulation by heart rate variability analysis, baroreflex sensitivity analysis, sympathetic vasomotor tone (blood pressure variability) and arterial stiffness. This project will provide useful information for optimizing the resistance exercise prescription for postmenopausal women by identifying exercise structures that potentially allow to preserve physiological adaptations and at the same time to blunt the acute cardiovascular stress.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
40
Inclusion Criteria
  • Five years since menopause
  • Physically active (150-300 minutes a week of moderate physical activity or at least 75 minutes a week of vigorous physical activity)
  • No more than 3 cardiovascular risk factors
  • Asymptomatic and without cardiovascular (except hypertension), metabolic or renal disease
  • Hypertensive women should be diagnosed with grade 1 hypertension that must be well controlled by one drug and with low or moderate cardiovascular risk.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Having grade 2 or 3 hypertension
  • Participants with hypertension and taking more than one drug for controlling hypertension or by a drug that can interfere cardiovascular responses to exercise
  • To be or have been receiving hormonal replacement therapy
  • To show hypertensive response to exercise

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Resistance training with short set configuration performed by normotensive postmenopausal womenShort set configuration resistance trainingNormotensive postmenopausal women performing resistance training protocol with the lowest cardiovascular stress identified in the first study of the project. It can be expected to be a short set configuration protocol
Resistance training with short set configuration performed by hypertensive postmenopausal womenShort set configuration resistance trainingHypertensive postmenopausal women performing resistance training protocol with the lowest cardiovascular stress identified in the first study of the project. It can be expected to be a short set configuration protocol
Resistance training with long set configuration performed by normotensive postmenopausal womenLong set configuration resistance trainingNormotensive postmenopausal women performing resistance training protocol with the highest cardiovascular stress identified in the first study of the project. It can be expected to be a long set configuration protocol
Resistance training with long set configuration performed by hypertensive postmenopausal womenLong set configuration resistance trainingHypertensive postmenopausal women performing resistance training protocol with the highest cardiovascular stress identified in the first study of the project. It can be expected to be a long set configuration protocol
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Blood pressure25 minutes

Systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure will be obtained by a photoplethysmography sensor. Units: mmHg

Heart rate variability in frequency domain25 minutes

Obtained from spectral analysis of electrocardiogram recordings. High (HF) and Low (LF) frequency bands power will be determined by Fast Fourier Transformation method. Units: ms2/Hz

Resting metabolic rate60 minutes

It will be obtained by measuring oxygen consumption at rest. Units: kcal/·day

Blood pressure variability25 minutes

It will be calculated by spectral analysis of beat-to-beat blood pressure recordings obtained by a photoplethysmography sensor. Units: mmHg2/Hz

Arterial stiffness15 minutes

It will be assessed by finger-toe pulse wave velocity method. Units: m/s

Baroreflex sensitivity25 minutes

Simultaneous electrocardiogram and beat-to-beat blood pressure recordings obtained by a photoplethysmography sensor will be used for calculating baroreflex sensitivity by sequential methods. Units: mmHg/ms

Bone mineral density10 minutes

It will be obtained by a Ultrasound Bone Densitometer. Units: g/cm

Heart rate variability in time domain25 minutes

Standard deviation of the normal-to-normal interval (SDNN) and root of the mean squared differences of successive NN intervals (RMSSD) will be obtained by analyzing inter-beat intervals from electrocardiogram recordings. Units: ms

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Height10 minutes

Measured in m

Power-velocity relationship60 minutes

Relationship betweenPower (W) and angular velocity (°/s). Obtained by performing maximum torque at specific velocities in an isokinetic dynamometer

Maximum isometric torque60 minutes

Maximum torque recorded at fixed angular position. It will be measured with an isokinetic dynamometer. Units: N/m

Skeletal muscle mass10 minutes

Estimated by Bioelectrical impedance analysis. Units: kg and percentage of body mass

Body mass index2 minutes

Measured in kg/m\^2

Torque-velocity relationship60 minutes

Relationship between torque (N/m) and angular velocity (°/s). Obtained by performing maximum torque at specific velocities in an isokinetic dynamometer

Fat mass10 minutes

Estimated by Bioelectrical impedance analysis. Units: kg and percentage of body mass

Body mass10 minutes

Measured in kg

Muscle thickness20 minutes

Measured with an ultrasound device. Units: mm

Lipid profile to determine cardiovascular risk5 minutes

* Total Cholesterol in mg/dL

* High-Density Lipoprotein in mg/dL

* Triglycerides in mg/dL

* Calculated Low-Density Lipoprotein in mg/dL

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education

🇪🇸

Bastiagueiro, A Coruña, Spain

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