Influence of rest period duration between successive muscular
strength sets on acute modifications of blood pressure and heart rate in the
healthy subject
Note: [] Address for correspondence: M. Lamotte, Cardiology Department,
1^{E}, Erasme Hospital, Free University of Brussels, 808
Lennik Road, 1070 Brussels, Belgium. Tel.: +32 2 5556962; Fax: +32 2 5554609;
E-mail: mlamotte@ulb.ac.be
Abstract: Objective. To measure the impact of different recovery periods on
systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) during classical resistance
training (RT) modalities Background. Resistance training was introduced into rehabilitation
programs to improve the efficiency of traditional training. The impact of
different RT modalities on muscular performance is well known but the recovery
periods between successive RT sets recommended in the literature varied between
30 s and 5 min. Method. Twenty one healthy subjects were tested while performing a
classical RT paradigm: 3 sets of 10 repetitions at 75% of 1-RM, with recovery
periods of 30, 60, 90 and 120 s. Results. A recovery period of 30 or 60 s did not allow a return of
SBP and HR to resting values. A progressive drift of the values was observed in
the successive rests as well as in the successive efforts. A recovery period
longer than 60 s (90 and 120 s) allowed a return of SBP and HR to resting
values. Conclusions. A recovery period of 90 s or more between successive
classical RT sets is recommended in order to avoid excessive SBP and HR
elevation.
Keywords: Blood pressure, heart rate, recovery period, resistive training
