Cardiac Autonomic Modulation and Lower Limbs Resistance Exercise in Healthy Elderly: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Aim

Assess the cardiac autonomic modulation during and after lower limbs resistance exercise (RE) in elderly compared to young.

Methods

Fifteen elderly (66 ± 5 years) and 15 young (25 ± 4 years) underwent a RE protocol on the Leg Press at 70% of one repetition maximum. Parasympathetic indices (LnSD1 and LnRMSSD) were obtained through ultra-short-term heart rate variability analyze at resting, peak, and recovery (1, 3, 5, 10, and 15 min); in addition, heart rate recovery (HRR) was obtained.

Results

At the peak effort: LnSD1 and LnRMSSD were higher in the elderly compared to young (LnSD1: 0.65 ± 0.21 vs. 0.44 ± 0.22, p < 0.05; LnRMSSD: 0.81 ± 0.21 vs. 0.58 ± 0.23, p < 0.05); and at recovery phase: attenuated HRR and lower parasympathetic response were found to elderly compared to young (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

At the peak of RE, greater parasympathetic modulation was observed in elderly compared to young, and during recovery lower parasympathetic modulation and attenuated HRR were found in elderly.

Keywords:

• Aging
• autonomic nervous system
• cardiovascular system
• exercise

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to thank the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo–FAPESP (2015/26501-1) and the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico–CNPq (102489/2022-0) for their financial support, as well as the volunteers for their effort and enthusiastic cooperation throughout the study