Concurrent training effects on heart rate variability, blood pressure and fitness of middle-aged men and women

The concurrent training led to beneficial effects on aerobic fitness and muscle strength. However, its effects on blood pressure (BP) and autonomic control marks are little studied. This study aimed to evaluate the concurrent training effects on BP, autonomic control, aerobic fi tness and muscle strength of middle-aged men and women. Thirty-two volunteers (51.4 ± 4.2 years, systolic BP 115 ± 12 mmHg and diastolic BP 78 ± 8 mmHg) were divided into 4 groups of 8 volunteers: male concurrent training (MCT), female concurrent training (FCT), male sedentary control (MSC) and female sedentary control (FSC) groups. A minimum absence of menstruation for 12-months was required. Concurrent training, six resistance exercise for whole body followed by 30 min of jogging and/or running at 55%–85% of VO2peak, was performed three times a week. The main assessments were rest BP and cardiovascular autonomic markers evaluated through heart rate variability (iRR, LF, HF, LF/HF, RMSSD, pNN50, SD1 and SD2), aerobic fitness measured by cardiorespiratory test (VO2peak) and muscle strength by one repetition maximum (1-RM - arm curl, bench press and leg press). The concurrent training did not change any cardiovascular variables. Regarding fitness the MCT and FCT groups demonstrated signifi cant improvement in VO2peak (13.12% e 8.51%, respectively). Muscle strengthimproved significantly in the MCT group in all three exercises (arm curl: 26.53%; bench press: 25.04%; leg press: 65.37%), while FCT in just two exercises (arm curl: 12.79%; bench press: 17.25%). Although concurrent training appears to be a good alternative for inducing improvements in various physical fitnessvariables in male, its can induce concurrence in leg strength of female. Concurrent training is not an effective strategy to improve BP and autonomic nervous system.