Cardiovascular responses during bench stepping in the young university women

Abstract

This study evaluated cardiovascular responses during choreographed bench stepping in benchs of 10cm of height (BS10) and investigated the effects caused by BS10 in the young university women’s aerobic power. Ten healthy women, 20,88±1,17 years old, and BMI 21,77±3,07 Kg/m2 accomplished 3 sessions of 50 minutes of BS10, during 12 weeks. Anthropometric measures, resting HR, VO2máx, and VO2Training were analyzed. Graded maximal treadmill tests were accomplished (Bruce protocol). Descriptive statistics and unpaired Student t-Test were used, considering the significance of p<0,05. Results presented that the mean O2 consumption of BS10 was 18,9±0,41ml/Kg/min (52,78±1,11 %VO2máx) and the mean HR was 134,89±1,83bpm (55,85±1,35% resting HR). There were significant differences between VO2máx and resting HR means before and after the training, respectively: 33,47±3,55 and 35,43±3,29ml/Kg/min (p=0,044); 72,6±3,17 and 65,7±4,92bpm (p=0,002). Therefore it was indicated that BS10 has aerobic characteristics and his practice can reduce the resting HR and increase aerobic power, and that the exercise intensity can be prescribed based on the reserve HR.