The aim of the study was to compare the cardiovascular autonomic response (CAR) of recreational weight trainers, long distance runners and non-exercised subjects. Men, 21 to 55 years old, were grouped in: recreational weight trainers (W, n = 31), long distance runners (R, n = 28) and non-exercised (C, n = 35). Four strategies of evaluation of the CAR were selected: Resting heart rate (RHR), cold pressor test (CPT), heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate recovery (HHR) following maximal exercise test. The RHR was lower (R = 54 ± 2; W = 62 ± 2; C= 65 ± 2 bpm; mean ± SE) and the HHR 60s post exercise was larger in the R group (R = 34 ± 3; W = 23 ± 1; C = 24 ± 2 bpm). The R group presented larger high-frequency (HF; 55.1 ± 4.0 n.u) and smaller low-frequency (LF; 43.1 ± 4.0 n.u) components of HRV than C group (HF = 40.7 ± 3.3; LF = 56.7 ± 3.5 n.u.). The W group did not show any differences compared to C group. The study's conclusion was that long-term weight-training program, unlike of long-term running training, it is not able to alter significantly the regulatory pattern of CAR.
Strength training; Aerobic exercise; Parasympathetic nervous system; Sympathetic nervous system; Heart rate variability; Autonomic control of heart
