The accute effects of resistance exercise on intraocular pressure

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To study intraocular pressure (IOP) variations in healthy volunteers after weight lifting, in the supine position. METHODS: A descriptive study was designed. Thirty-four individuals were preselected for this study, and a group of 25 volunteers fulfilled the inclusion criteria for joining the initial phase of this research. All of them were healthy without glaucoma. They were asked to lift an 85 percent top load in the supine position for 8 times. IOP was measured before and after the exercise. Student's t test was used to analyze the IOP variations. RESULTS: A small, but significant IOP decrease (1.61 mmHg) was obtained after exposing 25 individuals (49 eyes) to a specific physical effort. CONCLUSIONS: After a session of weight lifting in the supine position with 85 percent top load for 8 repetitions, there is a small, but significant IOP decrease