Metabolic and hemodynamic responses to walking with hand weights in older individuals

The purpose of this study was to examine metabolic and hemodynamic responses of older adults (age = 66.2 +/- 5.6 yr) to walking with hand-held weights (HHW). Nineteen volunteers participated in eight randomly assigned, 10-min, submaximal, self-selected constant speed (CSP) or constant heart rate (CHR) exercise bouts using the following HHW conditions: no weight, W0; 0.45 kg, W1; 1.36 kg, W3; 2.27 kg, W5. Oxygen uptake (VO2) was recorded every 30 s, heart rate (HR) each minute, and blood pressure (BP) every 2 min. Mean values for the last 5 min of exercise were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. Contrast comparison tests were used to determine differences among means. During CS, significant differences between means (P < or = 0.05) existed for: VO2 (W0, W1 < W3, W5); HR, SBP, DBP, SBPmax, DBPmax (W0 < W1, W3, W5); HR, rate pressure product (RPP), DBPmax (W1 < W5); SBP, DBP, SBPmax, RPP (W3 < W5). During CHR, significant differences (P < or = 0.05) between means existed for: SBP, DBP, RPP (W0, W1, W3 < W5); DBP (W0 < W3; W1, W3 < W5). These results indicate that the use of HHW significantly increases metabolic responses at W3 and W5 during CS exercise in older adults, while hemodynamic responses increase significantly across HHW for both CS and CHR. Due to the increases in hemodynamic responses, the use of HHW may be contraindicated for older individuals with suspected or diagnosed cardiovascular disease.