Objective. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine (a) the effects of high intensity strength training at workplace on blood pressure, fat percentage and physical fitness in overweight adults, and (b) the influence of this intervention on the blood pressure in a subsample of hypertensive subjects.
Methods. Overweight adults (n = 15) aged 42,8 years underwent anthropometric assessment (weight, fat percentage, waist circumference, and triceps skinfold), physical fitness assessment (leg extensor power, upper body endurance, hand grip strength and Vo2max) and blood pressure assessment before and after 8 weeks of high intensity resistance training at workplace. Each training session consist of 16 sets of 45 repetitions performed at 1 repetition per second decreasing load at muscular failure starting at 60% of repetition maximum (RM).
Results. Weight, body fat percentage, and triceps skinfold decreased significantly with the high intensity resistance training protocol at workplace (all p < 0.05). Performance in physical fitness tests increased significantly with training (all p < 0.05), except for handgrip strength. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly with R-HIRT at workplace (all p < 0.05) in hypertensive subjects.
Conclusion. This protocol performed at workplace in this pilot study produces health and fitness benefits in overweight and hypertensive people.
Corresponding author. pa-borras@uib.es
