Eight Weeks of Interval Training Led to no Improvement in Cardiovascular Variables in the Elderly

Background: Interval training is a method with high acceptance in prescription to increase health and can be an essential intervener in improving cardiovascular function. Objective: This study aimed to verify the effects of eight weeks of interval training with different intensities on hemodynamic and autonomic function, which were assessed through resting heart rate, blood pressure, dual product, and heart rate variability. Methods: The sample consisted of 24 older men (age: 68.8 ± 6.8 years, body mass: 74.4 ± 18.1 kg, height: 1.70 ± 0.8 m; BMI: 25.1 ± 2, 2) who were physically active. Participants were randomized into 3 experimental groups: training group A (TGA, n = 8), training group B (TGB, n = 8) and control group (CG, n = 8). For trained groups, interventions were developed twice a week for eight weeks, with an interval of 48 hours between the sessions. The evaluations were carried out at the pre (baseline) and after the eighth week of intervention. The control group did not perform any intervention. The variables were analyzed for 10 minutes with subjects at rest in the sitting position before and after the intervention. Statistics with a significance level of p <0.05 were applied. Results: After the intervention, no statistically significant results were found in the variables assessed (p> 0.05). Conclusion: The intervention was not sufficient to promote statistical differences in hemodynamic and autonomic variables.