German volume training for health promotion: Acute vasopressor, pulmonary and metabolic responses

Brandon S Shaw; Rohan Lloyd; Monica Da Silva; Donne Coetzee; Jason Moran; Sally P W Waterworth; Musa L Mathunjwa; Ina Shaw

doi:10.3389/fphys.2022.1025017

German volume training for health promotion: Acute vasopressor, pulmonary and metabolic responses

Front Physiol. 2022 Dec 19:13:1025017. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1025017. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Brandon S Shaw¹, Rohan Lloyd², Monica Da Silva², Donne Coetzee², Jason Moran¹, Sally P W Waterworth¹, Musa L Mathunjwa³, Ina Shaw¹

Affiliations

¹ Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom.
² Department of Sport and Movement Studies, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.
³ Department of Human Movement Science, University of Zululand, Kwadlangezwa, South Africa.

Abstract

Resistance training (RT) is increasingly recommended for incorporation into comprehensive fitness or "exercise as medicine" programs. However, the acute effects of RT, and especially its different sub-types, and how they impact health outcomes are not fully investigated. This study evaluated German Volume Training (GVT) ("10 set × 10 rep scheme") for its efficacy for its use in health settings. This study utilized a randomized crossover design with subjects serving as their own controls to establish baseline values. Subjects were blinded to the study hypothesis. Subjects performed a single session of GVT or no exercise, in a randomised order separated by a 1-week washout period. Outcomes were assessed before and immediately post-exercise. GVT significantly (p < 0.05) decreased systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP), but increased heart rate (HR), rate pressure product (RPP) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). No changes were found in the measured spirometry parameters. Increases were observed in carbon dioxide production (VCO₂) and minute ventilation (V_E), but not respiratory exchange ratio. Post hoc analysis demonstrated that post-GVT values were significantly lower for SBP (p = 0.017; d = 1.00), DBP (p = 0.013; d = 0.90), MAP (p = 0.024; d = 1.06), and VCO₂ (p = 0.009; d = -1.32), and significantly higher for RPP (p = 0.001; d = -3.11), RPE (p = 0.001; d = -14.14), and HR (p = 0.001; d = -3.00). This study indicates that acute GVT promotes post-exercise hypotension and is of sufficient intensity to increase both objective HR and subjective RPE intensities appropriately for use in a variety of health promotion settings.

Keywords: physiological response; resistance training; single exercise session; strength training; weight training.