Effects Of Muscular Strength And Endurance Training On Ambulatory Blood Pressure Responses In Hypertensive Elderly

Abstract

PURPOSE To examine whether a 10-week elastic band exercise program would change an ambulatory blood pressure (BP) reponses during exercise in hypertensive elderly women. METHODS A total of 43 community dwelling women were recruited in the study. They were randomly assigned to either exercise group (EG; n = 24, 72 ± 5, 152 ± 5, 58 ± 6, 130 ± 14, 76 ± 14) or control group (CG; n = 19, 72 ± 5 yrs, 150 ± 6 cm, 53 ± 10 kg, 125 ± 13 systolic BP mmHg, 80 ± 14 diastolic BP mmHg). All have took prescribed anti-hypertensive drugs. The exercise program for EG consisted of upper and lower body muscular strength and endurance training using elastic band at an intensity of 12–14 RPE, 70 min/session, 3 times/wk for 10 weeks, while no treatments were given for CG. Before and after the period, their resting and two types of ambulatory BP were measured. While they performed arm curl on one hand, BP and heart rate (HR) were measured on the other arm. On the other occasion, their BP was measured immediately after 2-min step test (20 cm height). RESULTS The systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP), mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, rate-pressure product, and HR during resting and exercise did not change after the exercise program (2-way ANOVA, P>0.05). However the magnitude of reduction were greater in resting SBP in EG (5.7) than CG (2.0), and resting DBP in EG (5.2) than CG (−2.0 mmHg) (P<0.05). During arm curl exercise, the magnitude of reduction was greater in SBP in EG (4.5) than CG (−6.1) and in DBP in EG (16.4) than CG (0.0 mmHg) (P<0.05). After the step test, the magnitude of reduction in SBP was greater in EG (5.5) than CG (−4.1 mmHg) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Ten weeks of muscular strength and endurance training did not result in reduction of absolute values of blood pressure parameters. However, the magnitude of reduction was greater after the exercise program both at rest and during exercise in hypertensive elderly women. This study was supported by the Korean Research Foundation, Brain Korea 21 Programs.