Cardiovascular changes at rest and during mixed static and dynamic exercise after weight training

Weightlifting exercise has been considered to result in little or no cardiovascular benefit, However, previous research has not considered specificity of training when evaluating strength conditioning. To study the potential hemodynamic changes which occur after weight training, we observed resting heart rate and blood pressure and the product of systolic blood pressure and heart rate (RPP) during treadmill walking while carrying two different weighted loads among previously sedentary adults. After 16 weeks of exercise, resting heart rate was unaltered, but both systolic and diastolic pressure were significantly reduced 9 mmHg (p <.02) and 10.5 mmHg (p <.005), respectively. The RPP during treadmill testing with a 3.63 kg hand held weight was reduced 18.5 percent (p<.003). During similar treadmill exercise with a 9.07 kg hand held weight, mean double product decreased 18.4 percent (p <.0001). These findings suggest that 16 weeks of weight training results in favorable hemodynamic alterations by reducing resting blood pressure and lowering the rate pressure product during submaximal mixed static and dynamic exercise.