Resistance Training Effects on Cardiac Function in Older Women- A Study Overview

Study Overview This study investigated how 24 weeks of resistance training (RT) impacts heart function in older women. 73 physically independent women were split into two groups: a training group (TG, n=38) and a control group (CG, n=35). The training group completed 3 RT sessions per week, targeting full-body exercises.

Training Protocol The participants in the training group performed 8 exercises for the whole body, completing 3 sets of 8–12 repetitions per session. Cardiac function was measured before and after the 24-week intervention using tissue Doppler echocardiography, and strength was assessed via 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) tests.

Key Findings The results showed significant improvements in heart function for the training group:

  • Reduced left ventricular end-diastolic volume.

  • Increased left ventricular mass and ejection fraction.

  • Improved cardiac function indicators like E’/E septal and E lateral. The control group, in contrast, did not show these improvements.

Conclusion This study concludes that 24 weeks of resistance training can improve both the structure and function of the heart in older women, highlighting the importance of regular strength training for cardiac health as we age.

Rodrigues, R.J., Cunha, P.M., Nunes, J.P. et al. Resistance training improves cardiac function in older women: a randomized controlled trial. GeroScience (2024).

Tové Wood