Resistance training and predicted risk of coronary heart disease in sedentary males

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of resistance training, designed to prevent the development of coronary heart disease (CHD) based on the Framingham Risk Assessment (FRA) score. Twenty-five healthy sedentary men with low CHD risk were assigned to participate in a 16-week (three days per week) resistance training programme (n = 13) or non-exercising control group (CG) (n = 12). Resistance training was performed using eight whole-body exercises for three sets of 15 repetitions at 60% of one-repetition maximum. Resistance training did not significantly (p > 0.05) reduce the number of cigarettes smoked daily (p > 0.133) or TC (p > 0.917), while significant improvements were found in SBP (p < 0.003), HDLC (p < 0.005) and FRA score (p < 0.021); thus improving absolute 10-year risks for CHD. The CG subjects were found to have had no significant changes in number of cigarettes smoked daily (p > 0.831), TC (p > 0.678), HDLC (p > 0.672) or FRA score (p > 0.504), but SBP increased significantly (p
< 0.030). These data indicate that resistance training can effectively reduce the predicted risk of developing CHD, even in men with already low risk.