Ischemic Preconditioning in Resistance Exercise in Older Women

Brief Summary

This study investigates whether ischemic preconditioning (IPC) can reduce cardiac demand after resistance exercise in older women. Aging is associated with increased cardiovascular stress, especially due to elevated blood pressure and cardiac demand during and after exercise. Strategies that can reduce this overload may improve exercise safety in older women. This is a randomized, single-blind, crossover clinical trial involving 30 women aged 60 years or older. Participants perform two conditions: ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and a sham condition (SHAM), followed by a standardized resistance exercise session. The primary outcome is cardiac workload, assessed by the rate-pressure product (systolic blood pressure × heart rate) during post-exercise recovery. Secondary outcomes include blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rate recovery. The results of this study may contribute to safer exercise strategies for older women.