Impact of Resistance Training Intensity on Blood Pressure

Launched by UNIVERSITÉ DE SHERBROOKE · Feb 19, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how different levels of resistance training intensity affect blood pressure in women aged 50 to 70. The researchers want to learn if lifting lighter weights (50% of what a person can lift once) or heavier weights (80% of that maximum) while putting in the same level of effort can lower blood pressure after exercising. They will also explore how these exercises impact overall heart health and whether participants enjoy the workouts.

To participate, women must be between 50 and 70 years old, have a specific range of resting blood pressure, and should not have been active in structured exercise for at least three months. Participants will go through a few visits for assessments and familiarization before engaging in three experimental workout sessions, which include both the low and high resistance training and a control task that doesn’t involve physical effort. This study is not yet recruiting participants but aims to provide valuable insights into how exercise can help manage blood pressure in older women.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • aged 50 to 70 years;
• • absence of menstruation for 12 consecutive months;
• • normal-high resting blood pressure (120 ≤ Systolic ≤ 139 mmHg and 80 ≤ Diastolic ≤ 89 mmHg) or stage 1 hypertension (140 ≤ Systolic ≤ 159 mmHg or 90 \< Diastolic ≤ 99 mmHg);
• • physically inactive (\< 150 minutes of structured aerobic physical activity per week);
• • and not engaging in regular resistance exercise (≥ 2 sessions per week) for more than 3 months during the year.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • orthopedic limitations or other contraindications to resistance exercise;
• • scheduled surgery during the study;
• • unstable hypertension (≥ 160/100 mmHg);
• • diagnosis of type 2 diabetes;
• • cardiovascular event in the past 6 months or sequelae preventing exercise;
• • and initiation of hormonal replacement therapy (\< 4 months) known to affect blood pressure.