Effects of aerobic versus resistance training on blood pressure, heart rate and rate–pressure product among athletes in northwestern Nigeria

Regular physical exercise is widely recognized as an effective non-pharmacological strategy for improving cardiovascular health and athletic performance. However, the relative effects of different exercise modalities on cardiovascular parameters among athletes remain an area of ongoing investigation. This study evaluated the comparative effects of aerobic exercise and resistance training on blood pressure, heart rate, and rate–pressure product among athletes in Yelwa-Yauri, Kebbi State, Nigeria.
A total of trained athletes was recruited and assigned to either an aerobic exercise group or a resistance training group. Baseline measurements of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), resting heart rate (HR), and rate–pressure product (RPP), an index of myocardial oxygen demand, were obtained prior to the intervention. Participants then engaged in a structured training program specific to their assigned exercise modality for a defined intervention period. Following completion of the training protocol, the same cardiovascular parameters were reassessed.
The results demonstrated that both aerobic and resistance training elicited significant improvements in cardiovascular parameters. Participants in the aerobic exercise group exhibited a more pronounced reduction in resting heart rate and rate–pressure product, suggesting enhanced cardiac efficiency and reduced myocardial workload. In contrast, resistance training produced moderate reductions in blood pressure and heart rate while contributing to improved muscular strength. Comparative analysis indicated that aerobic exercise had slightly greater overall benefits on cardiovascular indices among the athletes.
In conclusion, both aerobic and resistance training confer beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. However, aerobic exercise appears to exert stronger effects on heart rate reduction and myocardial workload, making it particularly valuable for enhancing cardiovascular endurance among athletes. These findings may assist coaches, trainers, and sports scientists in developing optimized training programs tailored to the cardiovascular demands of athletes in Yelwa-Yauri and similar populations.