Acute Effects of Traditional Versus Cluster Set Upper Body Resistance Training on Heart Rate Variability and Blood Pressure in Trained Men

Abstract

Traditional (TRD) and cluster set (CLT) resistance training (RT) configurations differentially affect cardiovascular parameters, such as heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure (BP), but the cardiovascular effects of upper body TRD and CLT with multiple exercises remain unclear. To compare the acute effects of upper body TRD and CLT on postexercise HRV and BP variables. Sixteen men with ≥ 1 year of RT experience participated in this randomized crossover study. Subjects performed four upper-body exercises in both protocols, matched for volume, intensity, and rest periods. HRV and BP were measured pre-exercise, postexercise, and again every 10 min for 40 min postexercise. Heart rate was elevated in both conditions until 30 min for TRD, but recovered by 20 min for CLT, and was lower in CLT versus TRD at 20–40 min (p values < 0.05). Root mean square of successive differences was reduced in both conditions until 30 min in TRD, but recovered by 20 min in CLT, with higher values in CLT versus TRD at 20–40 min (p values < 0.05). Despite no interaction (p > 0.05), systolic BP (SBP) was higher overall in CLT (p < 0.05). Moreover, effect sizes revealed moderate SBP reductions from pre-exercise across all postexercise time points in TRD, with SBP lower in TRD versus CLT at 20–40 min (small-to-moderate effect sizes). CLT promoted faster cardiac-autonomic recovery, whereas TRD tended to promote greater postexercise hypotension. Thus, set configuration should be selected based on specific goals, such as accelerating parasympathetic reactivation or reducing SBP.