The Effect of a Period of Resistance Training on Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Agility, and Speed in Disabled Female Athletes

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Considering the increased rate of cardiovascular diseases as well as muscle weakness in disabled women, the present study was performed with the aim of investigating the effect of a period of resistance training on cardiovascular risk factors, agility, and speed in disabled female athletes. Methods: Eighteen disabled female athletes (age, 29.5±2.6 years; weight, 66.3±14.5kg) voluntarily participated in this quasi-experimental study. The subjects were randomly divided into two identical control groups (n=9) and experimental group (n=9). The control group performed regular training (3 sessions per week), but the experimental group, in addition to regular training, participated in resistance training (3 sessions per week) for 8 weeks. The serum levels of LDL, HDL, and functional tests (zig-zag agility and speed tests), were assessed before and after 8 weeks of training. Data were analyzed using independent t-, paired t-, and covariance tests. The significance level was considered to be p0.05). but after 8 weeks of resistance training, diameter speed function significantly improved in the experimental group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that 8 weeks of resistance training, without changes in serum levels of LDL and HDL and agility, improved diameter speed function in disabled women.

Keywords

• agility
• speed
• resistance training
• women
• cardiovascular diseases.