Effects of individualized resistance training prescription with heart rate variability on muscle strength, muscle size and functional performance in older women

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate whether individualizing autonomic recovery periods between resistance training (RT) sessions (IND) using heart rate variability (HRV), measured by the root mean square of successive R-R interval differences (RMSSD), would lead to greater and more consistent improvements in muscle strength, muscle mass, and functional performance in older women compared to a fixed recovery protocol (FIX).

Methods: Twenty-one older women (age 66.0 ± 5.0 years old) were randomized into two different protocols (IND: n = 11; FIX: n = 10) and completed 7 weeks of RT. Measurements of RMSSD were performed within a five-day period to establish baseline values. The RMSSD values determined whether participants were recovered from the previous session. The assessments included muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), one-repetition maximum (1RM), peak torque (PT), rate of force development (RFD), chair stand (CS), timed up and go (TUG), 6-minutes walking (6MW), and maximum gait speed (MGS).

Results: There were no significant (P > 0.05) group vs. time interactions. There were significant main effects of time (P < 0.05) for CSA, 1RM, PT, TUG, CS, 6MW, and MGS, while no significant changes were observed for RFD (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: IND does not seem to enhance responses in muscle mass, strength, and functional performance compared FIX in healthy older women.