How different amounts of weight training affect heart and blood vessel health
Dose-response to resistance exercise on cardiovascular health
This work looks at how different amounts of weight training affect heart and artery health in adults with or at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11250993 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you'll be assigned to do different doses of resistance (weight) exercise—such as lower, moderate, or higher amounts—over several months with supervised training sessions. The study team will run blood tests for inflammation, measure arterial stiffness and blood vessel function, and track standard heart-disease risk factors before and after the exercise program. The goal is to see how smaller versus larger amounts of resistance exercise change these cardiovascular measures so doctors can give clearer guidance. Participation will likely include regular clinic visits, supervised workouts, and follow-up exams.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 and older with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or who are at increased risk and who can safely take part in supervised resistance exercise.
Not a fit: People who cannot safely perform resistance exercise—such as those with recent unstable heart conditions, severe mobility limitations, or other medical contraindications—are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify safe and effective amounts of weight training to improve heart and artery health and lower cardiovascular risk.
How similar studies have performed: While aerobic exercise has strong evidence for heart benefits, studies on resistance-exercise dose are limited and mostly observational, and no randomized trials have directly compared multiple resistance-exercise doses.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Duck-Chul — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Lee, Duck-Chul
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.