[Cardiopulmonary responses during high intensity weight training in male handball players]

Strength training has become popular and accepted as part of a well-rounded fitness program. Moreover, resistance training is currently prescribed by many health organizations for improving health and fitness. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible influence of high intensity heavy weight training on endurance related parameters. Hence the characteristics of oxygen uptake (VO2) kinetics and the heart rate (HR) kinetics have been assessed during a typical session of strength training in twelve healthy male handball players, aged 20-30 years.

The oxygen uptake and the heart rate were measured continuously using a portable breath-by-breath exercise system. The training consisted of 4 exercises (squat, bench press, lat pull, and neck press), each performed for ten repetitions at an intensity of 80% of one repetition maximum over a 30-seconds period with a 1:4 work/test ratio.

During weight training, the VO2 ranged from 0.8 +/- 0.2 l x min(-1) to 2.4 +/- 0.4 l x min(-1). The lowest values were measured during load, while peak values were reached 40 to 70 seconds after load. Mean (+/- SE) VO2 was 1.22 +/- 0.05 l x min(-1), or 26.5% of the treadmill-determined VO2(max). Mean (+/- SE) HR was 117 +/- 4 beats x min(-1), or 61% of the treadmill-determined HR(max).

The findings in the present study indicate that high intensity weight training is not able to produce adaptive improvement in cardiovascular function. The physiological responses measured during this experiment provide support to previous studies, that the lack of cardiovascular adaptation may be due to the low percentage of VO2(max)elicited by this form of training.