Repetition‐dependent acute cardiopulmonary responses during intensity‐matched squats in males

Abstract The ‘strength–endurance continuum’ is a key concept in strength training (ST). Although cardiopulmonary responses have seldom been reported in conjunction with ST, this repeated‐measurement study examined acute blood pressure and haemodynamic responses continuously depending on the number o...

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Main Authors: Johannes Lässing, Sonja Hummelmann, Maxi Kramer, Ulrich Laufs, Sven Fikenzer, Roberto Falz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Experimental Physiology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1113/EP092363
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author Johannes Lässing
Sonja Hummelmann
Maxi Kramer
Ulrich Laufs
Sven Fikenzer
Roberto Falz
author_facet Johannes Lässing
Sonja Hummelmann
Maxi Kramer
Ulrich Laufs
Sven Fikenzer
Roberto Falz
author_sort Johannes Lässing
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The ‘strength–endurance continuum’ is a key concept in strength training (ST). Although cardiopulmonary responses have seldom been reported in conjunction with ST, this repeated‐measurement study examined acute blood pressure and haemodynamic responses continuously depending on the number of repetitions but without changing the intensity. Fifteen healthy male participants (21.6 (2.0) years; mean (SD)) performed an incremental exercise test and a 3‐repetition maximum test (3‐RM) on a Smith machine. They were then randomly assigned to three ST sessions involving 10, 20 and 30 repetitions at 50% of their 3‐RM. Blood pressure (vascular unloading technique) and cardiopulmonary responses (spirometry and impedance cardiography) were continuously monitored. Heart rate (121 (10) vs. 139 (22) vs. 153 (13) bpm, P = 0.001, respectively), cardiac output (10.4 (1.9) vs. 13.6 (3.8) vs. 14.6 (3.1) L/min, P = 0.001, respectively) and diastolic blood pressure (113 (8) vs. 116 (21) vs. 135 (22) mmHg, P = 0.001, respectively) increased in the training sessions with higher repetitions. Stroke volume, systolic blood pressure and end‐diastolic volume indicated no change in peak values between training sessions. Total peripheral resistance (13.6 (2.8) vs. 11.3 (3.6) vs. 11.2 (3.1) mmHg min/L, P = 0.002, respectively) was significantly lower with 20 and 30 repetitions, while oxygen uptake (V̇O2: 15.5 (1.9) vs. 20.5 (4.1) vs. 20.6 (4.4) mL/min/kg, P = 0.001, respectively) was significantly higher. ST of moderate intensity with an exhausting number (>20) of repetitions induces strong haemodynamic responses, especially high cardiac afterload and a compensatory heart rate acceleration, which may also create a strong stimulus for cardiopulmonary adaptation.
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spelling doaj-art-d91a75838e04448e8140be32eb60d9612025-08-20T03:16:28ZengWileyExperimental Physiology0958-06701469-445X2025-08-0111081114112810.1113/EP092363Repetition‐dependent acute cardiopulmonary responses during intensity‐matched squats in malesJohannes Lässing0Sonja Hummelmann1Maxi Kramer2Ulrich Laufs3Sven Fikenzer4Roberto Falz5Department of Exercise Science & Sports Medicine Martin Luther University Halle‐Wittenberg Halle (Saale) GermanyInstitute of Sports Medicine and Prevention University of Leipzig Leipzig GermanyInstitute of Sports Medicine and Prevention University of Leipzig Leipzig GermanyUniversity Leipzig, Medizinische Fakultät Leipzig GermanyUniversity Leipzig, Medizinische Fakultät Leipzig GermanyInstitute of Sports Medicine and Prevention University of Leipzig Leipzig GermanyAbstract The ‘strength–endurance continuum’ is a key concept in strength training (ST). Although cardiopulmonary responses have seldom been reported in conjunction with ST, this repeated‐measurement study examined acute blood pressure and haemodynamic responses continuously depending on the number of repetitions but without changing the intensity. Fifteen healthy male participants (21.6 (2.0) years; mean (SD)) performed an incremental exercise test and a 3‐repetition maximum test (3‐RM) on a Smith machine. They were then randomly assigned to three ST sessions involving 10, 20 and 30 repetitions at 50% of their 3‐RM. Blood pressure (vascular unloading technique) and cardiopulmonary responses (spirometry and impedance cardiography) were continuously monitored. Heart rate (121 (10) vs. 139 (22) vs. 153 (13) bpm, P = 0.001, respectively), cardiac output (10.4 (1.9) vs. 13.6 (3.8) vs. 14.6 (3.1) L/min, P = 0.001, respectively) and diastolic blood pressure (113 (8) vs. 116 (21) vs. 135 (22) mmHg, P = 0.001, respectively) increased in the training sessions with higher repetitions. Stroke volume, systolic blood pressure and end‐diastolic volume indicated no change in peak values between training sessions. Total peripheral resistance (13.6 (2.8) vs. 11.3 (3.6) vs. 11.2 (3.1) mmHg min/L, P = 0.002, respectively) was significantly lower with 20 and 30 repetitions, while oxygen uptake (V̇O2: 15.5 (1.9) vs. 20.5 (4.1) vs. 20.6 (4.4) mL/min/kg, P = 0.001, respectively) was significantly higher. ST of moderate intensity with an exhausting number (>20) of repetitions induces strong haemodynamic responses, especially high cardiac afterload and a compensatory heart rate acceleration, which may also create a strong stimulus for cardiopulmonary adaptation.https://doi.org/10.1113/EP092363blood pressure responsecardiovascular responseheart ratesquatstrength trainingstrength–endurance continuum
spellingShingle Johannes Lässing
Sonja Hummelmann
Maxi Kramer
Ulrich Laufs
Sven Fikenzer
Roberto Falz
Repetition‐dependent acute cardiopulmonary responses during intensity‐matched squats in males
Experimental Physiology
blood pressure response
cardiovascular response
heart rate
squat
strength training
strength–endurance continuum
title Repetition‐dependent acute cardiopulmonary responses during intensity‐matched squats in males
title_full Repetition‐dependent acute cardiopulmonary responses during intensity‐matched squats in males
title_fullStr Repetition‐dependent acute cardiopulmonary responses during intensity‐matched squats in males
title_full_unstemmed Repetition‐dependent acute cardiopulmonary responses during intensity‐matched squats in males
title_short Repetition‐dependent acute cardiopulmonary responses during intensity‐matched squats in males
title_sort repetition dependent acute cardiopulmonary responses during intensity matched squats in males
topic blood pressure response
cardiovascular response
heart rate
squat
strength training
strength–endurance continuum
url https://doi.org/10.1113/EP092363
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AT maxikramer repetitiondependentacutecardiopulmonaryresponsesduringintensitymatchedsquatsinmales
AT ulrichlaufs repetitiondependentacutecardiopulmonaryresponsesduringintensitymatchedsquatsinmales
AT svenfikenzer repetitiondependentacutecardiopulmonaryresponsesduringintensitymatchedsquatsinmales
AT robertofalz repetitiondependentacutecardiopulmonaryresponsesduringintensitymatchedsquatsinmales