A comparison of the intraocular pressure response between two different intensities and volumes of resistance training

Abstract Purpose: To verify the influence of two different intensities and volumes of resistance training on intraocular pressur. Method: Nineteen athletes boxers (13 male and 6 female; mean age of 22 ± 3 years) were randomly assigned to two different resistance exercise sessions: muscular endurance with 3 sets of 15 repetition maximum and muscular hypertrophy with 4 sets of 8 RM. The intraocular pressure was measured with a Perkins tonometer before, during and after the resistance exercise sessions. Data were expressed as mean and standard deviation. A repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used and the Tukey post hoc test for multiple comparisons were applied. Results: A reduction in intraocular pressure during the resistance exercise session was observed. However, the muscular endurance exercise produced a significant reduction in intraocular pressure when compared with muscular hypertrophy. At the end of session, intraocular pressure returned to pre-exercise levels in muscular endurance session and above to pre-exercise levels in hypertrophy session. Conclusion: Resistance exercises influence intraocular pressure values, thus 3 sets of 15 repetitions with 60%1RM promote better intraocular pressure responses than 3 sets of 8 repetitions with 80% 1RM. This finding of the present research can contribute in prescription of resistance exercise to people with glaucoma risk factors.