The effects of strength training on women's cardiorespiratory capacity have not been widely established. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of resistance strength training with high number of repetitions on maximum oxygen uptake and ventilatory threshold in young women during 12 weeks. Twenty women, aged 21.2 + 2.7 years, were included in the study and assigned to two groups: I - resistance strength training with high number of repetitions group (TG, n = 10), and II - control group (CG, n = 10). All volunteers were submitted to the following protocol: anthropometry, cardiopulmonary testing on treadmill and 1 RM tests in the following exercises: leg-press 45º, seated leg extension, hamstring curl, bench press, lat pull-down, military press, standing barbell curls and lying barbell extension. The tests were performed before and after 12 weeks of training. Along the proposed period, the groups performed: I -TG: resistance exercises, the same of 1 RM tests, with three series of 25 repetitions, almost 30% of 1 RM; II - CG: no physical training whatsoever. CG did not show changes in the studied variables (p < 0.05). TG showed significant increase of lean mass (p < 0.05) and decrease of fat percentage (p < 0.01) and body fat (p < 0.01). There was increase in 1 RM tests in all exercises (p < 0.01) and increase of maximum oxygen uptake (p < 0.05); however, there was not change in the ventilatory threshold (p > 0.05) after 12 weeks. It is concluded that the resistance strength training with high number of repetitions improved the aerobic power of volunteers, evidenced by the increase of maximum oxygen uptake. However, the ventilatory threshold did not change.
muscle strength; assessment; cardiorespiratory variables; physical exercise
