High and low volume resistance training and vascular function

The aim was to examine the influence of high and low volume whole-body circuit weight training on forearm reactive hyperemic blood flow, venous capacitance and outflow in young individuals. Thirty-five individuals (age: 22 +/- 1.89 years) participated in an 8 station circuit performed 3 days/week for 5 weeks. The high volume group (n = 15) was encouraged to complete 3 sets/station, whereas the low volume group (n = 20) performed 1 set/station. Before and after training, muscle strength (hand grip, knee extension and bench press) and vascular function (reactive hyperemia, venous capacitance and outflow) were measured. Before training, there were no significant group differences. Training resulted in significant but similar strength gains in both groups (hand grip: 3.89 +/- 4.57 kg (+ 15.59 %), knee extension: 30.62+/- 12.52 kg (+ 35.31 %), bench press: 12.4 +/- 8.81 kg (+ 21.03 %); p < 0.05). Group averages for vascular function did not change following the circuit training. However, individuals with the lowest pretraining vascular measures did have significant increases in reactive hyperemic blood flow (17 %, p = 0.006) and venous outflow (18 %, p = 0.013), independent of group assignment. In conclusion, high and low volume circuit weight training results in significant and similar strength gains. Individuals with evidence of lower pretraining vascular function appear to respond favorably to short-term circuit weight training.