Long-Term Resistance Training Improves Cardiac Structure and Function in Older Women: A 2-yr Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE: This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of a supervised progressive resistance training (RT) program conducted over 2 yr on cardiac structure and function in older women. METHODS: Sixty-four physically independent older women (≥60 yr) were recruited for this investigation. Participants were randomly assigned to either a training group (TG, n = 33) or a control group (CG, n = 31). The RT program was conducted over 2 yr, in three sessions per week, on nonconsecutive days, and included eight whole-body exercises performed in three sets of 8-12 repetitions. Echocardiographic assessments were performed both before and after a 2-yr period by an experienced echocardiographer who was blinded to the participant's status and group assignment. RESULTS: A group-by-time interaction was found ( P < 0.05) for the left ventricular mass index (TG = -5.5% vs CG = +11%), septal thickness (TG = -3.8% vs CG = +7.3%), posterior wall thickness (TG = -2.8% vs CG = +13.6%), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (TG = -9.0% vs CG = +20.0%), left ventricular end-systolic volume (TG = -7.8% vs CG = +23.3%), left atrial volume index (TG = -7.1% vs CG = +28,1%), the left ventricular ejection fraction (TG = -1.0% vs CG = -4.9%), the E'/E septal (TG = -11.0% vs CG = +22.1%), the E septal (TG = +14.9% vs CG = -19.2%), and the E lateral (TG = +12.7% vs CG = -22.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that a 2-yr follow-up of the RT intervention may improve both the cardiac morphological and functional parameters in older women.