Long-Term Resistance Training Improves Cardiac Structure and Function in Older Women: A 2-yr Randomized Controlled...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Gerontology
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Aging is associated with detrimental changes in cardiac structure and function.
• Maintaining cardiac health in older adults is crucial for overall well-being and longevity.
• Resistance training (RT) is a viable intervention to counteract age-related cardiovascular decline.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the long-term effects of a supervised progressive resistance training (RT) program on cardiac structure and function in older women.
• To assess changes in key echocardiographic parameters after a two-year RT intervention.

Main Methods:

• A two-year randomized controlled trial involving 64 physically independent women aged 60 years and older.
• Participants were assigned to either a resistance training group (TG, n=33) or a control group (CG, n=31).
• The RT program involved three weekly sessions of whole-body exercises, with echocardiographic assessments before and after the intervention.

Main Results:

• Significant group-by-time interactions were observed for multiple cardiac parameters (P < 0.05).
• The RT group exhibited reductions in left ventricular mass index, septal and posterior wall thickness, and ventricular volumes.
• Improvements were also noted in left atrial volume index, ejection fraction, and diastolic function parameters (E'/E septal, E septal, E lateral) in the RT group.

Conclusions:

• A two-year supervised progressive resistance training program can significantly improve cardiac morphological and functional parameters in older women.
• RT represents a promising non-pharmacological intervention for enhancing cardiovascular health in the aging population.
• These findings support the integration of RT into lifestyle recommendations for older adults to promote cardiac longevity.