Effect of resistance training on muscular power of lower limbs of elderly with coronary artery disease

Abstract

Introduction: Strength and muscle power have a direct relationship with functional capacity in elderly people. Objective: Verify absolute and relative gains in muscle power of lower limbs in elderly people with coronary artery disease. Methods: Ten untrained men subjects participated of 24 sessions of resistance training composed by 2 sets of 6 to 8 maximum repetitions and 1 minute rest interval. Initially, the exercises were: half squat, step up and plantar flexion. And after: leg extension, leg curl, seated hip adduction and seated hip abduction. The muscle power was measured at times: pre, post 12 and 24 sessions. Results: After 24 sessions of resistance training were found increases in absolute muscle power (p< 0.0001) and relative (p< 0.0001) regarding the condition pre-training, respectively. Conclusion: Twenty four sessions of resistance training appear to be sufficient to increase absolute and relative muscle power in elderly people with coronary artery disease.