Exercise training effects on biochemical, metabolic, physical fitness, body composition and hemodynamic markers

The training protocols were based on American College of Sports Medicine positions stands, and was composed of Aerobic Training and Resistance Training performed in the same session or in separated sessions, divided into three stages (S1, S2 and S3), each stage consisting of eight week, 3 per week, of training and was conducted one after the other for a total intervention duration of 24 weeks. In S1, the subjects performed the Resistance Training through a linear periodization with six exercises (leg press, leg extension, leg curl, bench press, lateral pulldown and arm curl), with 3 sets of 10 repetitions at 10 RM (repetition maximum), and 1-min rest between sets. After this, participants were taken to an athletic track and performed 30 minutes of Aerobic Training by walking or running with varying intensity (5 minutes at less than ventilatory threshold intensity, 10 minutes at ventilatory threshold intensity, 10 minutes above ventilatory threshold and at less than respiratory compensation point intensity, 5 minutes at less than ventilatory threshold intensity), with these intensities corresponding to 50–85% of VO2peak. In S2, the Resistance Training was performed with the same exercises and sets from S1, however, with 3 sets of 8 repetitions at 8 RM (repetition maximum) and 1 minute and 30 seconds rest between sets. In the Aerobic Training the same duration was maintained, however, there was an adjustment in the training zone and time duration (5 minutes at less than ventilatory threshold intensity, 10 minutes at ventilatory threshold and at less than respiratory compensationpoint intensity, 10 minutes at respiratory compensation point intensity, 5 minutes at less than ventilatory threshold intensity), with these intensities corresponding to 50–85% of VO2peak . In S3, the Resistance Training was performed with the same exercises and sets from S1, however, with 3 sets of 6 repetitions at 6 RM (repetition maximum) and 1 minute and 30 seconds rest between sets. In the Aerobic Training, the same duration was maintained and an adjustment in the training zone and time duration (3 minutes at ventilatory threshold intensity, 12 minutes at ventilatory threshold and at less than respiratory compensation point intensity, 10 minutes at respiratory compensation point intensity, 5 minutes at ventilatory threshold intensity), with these intensities corresponding to 50–85% of VO2peak. In all three stages of training, the total duration of the sessions was approximately 30-60 minutes. The frequency of sessions was 24 per stage, given three per week and a total of 72 sessions. In all sessions, the subjects performed the resistance training or aerobic training or the resistance training following aerobic training protocol as his group. The resistance training was performed in a gym and the aerobic training in the athletic track, both located in the same place. Aerobic training intensity for ventilatory threshold and respiratory compensation point was controlled by the velocity achieved during the respective physiologic points in the treadmill test, since it was performed on 1% grades to reproduce athletic track conditions. The treadmill test was performed at baseline and end of stages 1 and 2 to determine ventilatory threshold and respiratory compensation point for the upcoming stage. The treadmill test was conducted by Physical Education professional and consisted by a maximum-effort protocol, where running at maximal effort on a treadmill whilst wearing a face mask to measure respiratory gases, which were collected continuously using an automated breath-by-breath metabolic cart. The treadmill duration test varied from subject to subject. Furthermore, the Resistance Training workloads were adjusted weekly. The subjects were encouraged to perform the greatest number of repetitions when they came to the last set of each exercise, maintaining the same range of motion and execution velocity previously determined. Workloads were increased by 1 kg for lower body and 1/2 kg for upper body for each repetition performed over the established training protocol, according to the greatest number of repetitions achieved by the participants in the previous week. The subjects were recommended to not change their pre eating and physical activity habits during the program. The training sessions was performed in group and was carried by Physical Education professional. The training adherence was monitored by log of session attendance.