Resistance exercise beneficial for cardiovascular health
By ANISunday, January 16, 2011
WASHINGTON - A new research has shown that resistance training has some similar effects as aerobic exercise in lowering a person’s blood pressure.
he research was conducted in the College of Health Sciences’ Department of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science at Appalachian State University.
The study is part of the growing body of research being conducted at Appalachian on the effects of exercise, supplements and health.
Dr. Scott Collier, who was the lead investigator of the study, looked at changes that occurred to arteries and blood flow following 45 minutes of moderate intensity resistance exercise using machines like those typically found in fitness centers.
He found that the resistance training resulted in as much as a 20 percent decrease in a person’s blood pressure, which is as good as or better than the benefit of taking anti-hypertensive medication.
“Resistance exercise increases blood flow which reduces blood pressure,” he said.
The findings are significant, he explained, because it shows that aerobic exercise isn’t the only way a person can improve their cardiovascular health.
“Aerobic exercise is the American Heart Association’s preferred exercise for decreasing cardiovascular risk,” Collier said.
He found that the beneficial effects of resistance training continued about 30 minutes after the exercise had ended and as long as 24 hours in individuals who trained for 30-45 minutes three times a week.
The study has been published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. (ANI)
