Physiological Responses to Hand-Carried Weights

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Abstract
In brief: Thirty trained men carrying either nothing, 1-lb weights, or 5-lb weights in each hand were tested on a motorized treadmill. The purpose was to determine whether using hand-held weights elicits a pressor reflex, in which heart rate and BP rise disproportionately to oxygen consumption (VO2). VO2 was measured during walking and running to see if it changed in proportion to heart rate response. Both walking and running while carrying 5-lb weights produced significant increases in V2, but only walking produced significant differences in heart rate. The oxygen pulse (the amount of oxygen used per heart beat) was not different for any of the three treatments. The authors concluded that carrying weights in the hands can help increase the training intensity for walkers or joggers who cannot or do not wish to jog or run at a higher speed.