Resistance Training and Autonomic Modulation in the Elderly

Abstract

We performed a review of acute and chronic effects of resistance training on the heart rate and cardiac autonomic regulation in the elderly. A systematic review of the literature was performed in June 2015 using MEDLINE, COCHRANE LIBRARY and PUBMED databases. The following combination of keywords, followed by the Clinical Trial filters, Humans, English, and Age ≥ 45 years were used for search of relevant manuscripts: Heart rate variability and exercise (259 articles); Heart rate variability and exercise and elderly (259 articles); Heart rate and Resistance training and elderly (170 articles); Heart rate variability and Resistance training (22 articles); Heart rate variability and Resistance training and elderly (22 articles); Cardiac autonomic modulation and Resistance training and elderly (8 articles). We reported that although some results did not point to benefic chronic effects of resistance exercise on HRV, others presented different data.