Comparison of Acute Cardiorespiratory Responses in Women Engaged in Local Muscle Endurance vs. High Load Strength Training

This study examined the acute cardiorespiratory responses of strength training protocols in trained women. Twenty-two subjects performed cardiorespiratory, 1RM tests, and two sessions of strength training with distinct load intensities. The strength protocols were local muscle endurance (LME, 3 sets of 15 to 20 RM repetitions at 50% of 1 RM and a 1 min rest interval between sets) and high load strength training (HLT, 3 sets of 3 to 5 RM repetitions, load of 90% of 1 RM and a 3 min rest interval between sets). At rest, there were no significant differences between the LME and HLT protocols for all variables. During the workout sessions, the LME protocol resulted in significantly (P less than or equal to 0.01) higher VO sub(2), VCO sub(2>), V sub(E) O sub(2) pulse, HR, V sub(E)/VO sub(2), and V sub(E)/VCO sub(2) responses as well as total volume of training vs. the HLT protocol. Although the LME protocol resulted in a higher cardiorespiratory overload versus the HLT protocol, it was too low to improve the cardiorespiratory fitness of young trained women.