Effects Of Boxing Training On Peripheral And Central Blood Pressure And Arterial Stiffness In Prehypertension

Abstract

PURPOSE: Early stages of high blood pressure, such as elevated blood pressure or stage 1 hypertension, have shown to increase cardiovascular mortality. Exercise is recommended for the prevention and treatment of high blood pressure; however, most clinical evidence is based on lower-body modalities of exercise. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of boxing training, a predominant upper-body exercise modality, on peripheral and central blood pressure and arterial stiffness in prehypertensive individuals. METHODS: A total of 14 young prehypertensive individuals were randomly allocated to a boxing training group or to a control group for 6 weeks. The boxing group underwent 42 minutes of boxing training three times per week while the control group performed flexibility and balance exercises. At the beginning and at the end of the intervention, brachial blood pressure was evaluated with an automatic cuff, central blood pressure by pulse wave analysis, and arterial stiffness by pulse wave velocity. A 2x2 repeated measures ANOVA design was employed to compare differences within and in between groups. Significance was established at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: After the intervention, only the boxing group showed a significant reduction on systolic blood pressure (p=0.027), diastolic blood pressure (p<0.001), central systolic blood pressure (p=0.011), augmentation index (p=0.021), and augmentation index at 75 beats per minute (p=0.008). No difference could be observed on pulse wave velocity in the boxing group (p=0.323), although a significant increment was seen in the control group (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Boxing training is an effective treatment alternative to reduce peripheral and central blood pressure in prehypertensive individuals. To reduce arterial stiffness in prehypertensive individuals, longer boxing training protocols might be required.