Direct Measurements of Arterial Blood Pressure During Formal Weightlifting in Cardiac Patients

Intra-arterial pressures and electrocardiographic responses were monitored in eight cardiac patients during progressive weightlifting exercise. Repetitions of single-arm curls, and double- and single-leg presses were performed at 20, 40, 60, and 80 % of maximum. Within a weightlifting activity, the arterial pressures increased with relative load (% of maximum). At the three lowest relative loads, blood pressures over the same number of repetitions were similar among the three exercises; at 80 % of maximum, single-arm curl exercise produced a prominent increase in the peak diastolic pressure. The highest heart rate and arterial pressures occurred during the double-leg press at 80% of maximum; the average mean arterial pressure and rate-pressure product at this load were 139 ± 7 mmHg and 249 ± 12 (χ102), respectively. This rate-pressure product equaled the highest value in maximal progressive incremental cycle ergometer testing. Only double-leg exercise at 60%, and single- and double-leg exercise at 80 % of maximum elicited a maximal rate-pressure product that exceeded the value calculated at 85 % of the maximum power output in cycle ergometer testing. None of the weightlifting exercises resulted in clinically significant ST segment depression, angina, or significant ventricular arrhythmias. It was concluded that in this group of patients with documented coronary artery disease, weightlifting exercises that used relatively few repetitions and a resistance less than 80 % of maximum resulted in clinically acceptable arterial blood pressure and electrocardiographic responses.