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Effect of resistance training on cardiorespiratory endurance and coronary artery disease risk
1Department of Sport and Physical Rehabilitation Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa.
Insights
Resistance training significantly improved cardio-respiratory endurance (VO2max) in untrained men. This suggests resistance exercise can be a valuable strategy for reducing coronary artery disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Preventative Medicine
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a significant health concern, particularly in South Africa.
- Existing research on exercise and CAD risk predominantly focuses on aerobic training.
- The role of resistance training in mitigating CAD risk factors requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if resistance training can enhance cardio-respiratory endurance (VO2max).
- To assess the potential of resistance training to reduce coronary artery disease risk.
- To compare the effects of resistance training versus a control group on VO2max.
Main Methods:
- A quantitative, experimental design with pre-test and post-test measurements.
- Twenty-eight untrained males were randomly assigned to a resistance-training group (n=13) or a control group (n=15).
- Participants were age-matched, with the training group undergoing an 8-week resistance program.
Main Results:
- The resistance-training group showed a statistically significant increase in VO2max (p=0.004).
- The control group exhibited no significant change in VO2max (p=0.201).
- Post-intervention, the resistance-training group's VO2max was significantly higher than the control group's (p=0.001).
Conclusions:
- Eight weeks of resistance training can significantly improve VO2max in untrained men.
- Resistance training demonstrates potential for favorably impacting coronary artery disease risk.
- Incorporating resistance training into exercise programs may offer comprehensive physiological benefits for cardiovascular health.
Abstract:
Coronary artery disease (CAD) represents a major medical problem in Western society and is a considerable cause of morbidity and mortality in South Africa. In recent years, epidemiologists have made extensive efforts to define the most common risk factors for CAD and propose preventative measures to limit the spread of the disease. Despite the increasing realisation of the importance of resistance training, the literature has focused primarily on aerobic modes of exercise and their effects on risk for CAD. The aim of this study was to determine whether resistance training could alter cardio-respiratory endurance (VO2max), and thus reduce CAD risk. A quantitative, experimental, comparative research design incorporating a pre-test, a treatment period and a post-test was used. Twenty-eight untrained male volunteers were age matched (mean age: 28 years and seven months) and randomly assigned to either a nonexercising control group (n = 15) or a resistance-training group (n = 13). The study demonstrated no statistically significant change in VO2max for the control group from their pre-test (25.097 ml/kg/min) to their post-test (23.778 ml/kg/min) (p = 0.201). However, resistance training significantly (p
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