The acute physiological effects of high- and low-velocity resistance exercise in older adults

Darren L Richardson; Michael J Duncan; Alfonso Jimenez; Victoria M Jones; Paul M Juris; Neil D Clarke

doi:10.1007/s10433-017-0439-y

The acute physiological effects of high- and low-velocity resistance exercise in older adults

Eur J Ageing. 2017 Oct 3;15(3):311-319. doi: 10.1007/s10433-017-0439-y. eCollection 2018 Sep.

Authors

Darren L Richardson^{1

2}, Michael J Duncan¹, Alfonso Jimenez¹, Victoria M Jones¹, Paul M Juris³, Neil D Clarke¹

Affiliations

¹ 1Centre for Applied Biological and Exercise Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK.
² 3Life Sciences, Faculty Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB UK.
³ 2Department of Kinesiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 30 Eastman Lane, Amherst, MA USA.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine if workload matched, high-velocity (HVE) and low-velocity (LVE) resistance exercise protocols, elicit differing acute physiological responses in older adults. Ten older adults completed three sets of eight exercises on six separate occasions (three HVE and three LVE sessions). Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and blood lactate were measured pre- and post-exercise, heart rate was measured before exercise and following each set of each exercise. Finally, a rating of perceived exertion was measured following each set of each exercise. There were no significant differences in blood lactate (F_(1,9) = 0.028; P = 0.872; $η_{P}^{2}$ = 0.003), heart rate (F_(1,9) = 0.045; P = 0.837; $η_{P}^{2}$ = 0.005), systolic blood pressure (F_(1,9) = 0.023; P = 0.884; $η_{P}^{2}$ = 0.003) or diastolic blood pressure (F_(1,9) = 1.516; P = 0.249; $η_{P}^{2}$ = 0.144) between HVE and LVE. However, LVE elicited significantly greater ratings of perceived exertion compared to HVE (F_(1,9) = 13.059; P = 0.006; $η_{P}^{2}$ = 0.592). The present workload matched HVE and LVE protocols produced comparable physiological responses, although greater exertion was perceived during LVE.

Keywords: Ageing; Health education; Older adults; Physical activity.