Comparison of static and dynamic resistance exercise effects on some functional cardiovascular indices, plasma lactate and peripheral blood leukocytes in healthy untrained women

Considering the conflicting results related to the resistance exercise-induced cardiovascular and inflammatory response, the present study was conducted to compare the effects of static and dynamic resistance training on some functional cardiovascular indices, plasma lactate and peripheral blood leukocytes in healthy untrained women.

In a quasi-experimental design, twenty healthy untrained volunteers (Female, aged 20-25 years and BMI 20-25 Kg/m2) in two random homogeneous groups were participated in an exhaustive static (40% of maximum voluntary contraction) or dynamic leg press resistance exercise (40% one repetition maximum with 45 to 55 repetitions). Heart rate, blood pressure, rate-pressure product (RPP) along with plasma lactate and peripheral blood leukocytes counts were determined immediately before and after the resistance exercises. Data were expressed as mean (±SD) and analyzed by paired and independent t-tests at α≤0.05.

Indices were significantly increased after the both resistance exercises (P<0.05). Moreover, the change range in heart rate, RPP (but not systolic blood pressure), plasma lactate and peripheral blood leukocytes counts of the static group were significantly higher than those of the dynamic group (P<0.05).

According to the present findings, it can be concluded that the undesirable alterations in functional cardiovascular indices along with fatigue (plasma lactate) and inflammatory indicators (peripheral blood leukocyte counts) in the static resistance leg press are higher than those in the dynamic leg press. Therefore, the dynamic resistance exercise can be a more suitable method than static resistance exercise for development of muscular strength and endurance in untrained women.