Individual Differences in Blood Pressure Changes after Endurance and Resistance Training

Abstract

PURPOSE: Large individual differences in the responsiveness of systolic blood pressure (SBP) to regular endurance training have been observed in healthy normotensive subjects. The training induced changes have ranged from a +20 increase to a −40 mmHg decrease. The individual effect of exercise training mode to decrease SBP among the healthy subjects is not well known. We tested the hypothesis that subjects with a poor responsiveness to endurance training might benefit from resistance training in terms of SBP. METHODS: The study population consisted of sedentary normotensive (SBP<150 mmHg) healthy male and female subjects (n=73, 42±5 year). The randomized crossover study design included a 2-week lab oratory-controlled endurance or resistance training period with a 2-month detraining period between the interventions. SBP was measured at resting condition and during a 5 min passive head-up tilt test. RESULTS: Large individual differences were observed in the changes of SBP (?SBP) after both the endurance (average −3±7 mmHg, P=0.001, range −20 to +13 mmHg) and resistance training (average −2±7 mmHg, P=0.034, range −31 to +16 mmHg) in resting condition. The average decrease in ?SBP between genders was similar after both the endurance and resistance training (P=ns between males and females). There was no linear relationship between the δSBP after each training intervention (r=−.06, P=ns). On the contrary, when the study group was divided into quartiles according to the endurance training response (+6±3, −1±2, −5±2, and −12±3 mmHg change in resting SBP, P<0.0001), the group with the increased SBP after endurance training (+6±3 mmHg, n=1 8) decreased SBP after the resistance training intervention (−2±3 mmHg, P<0.0001, compared with endurance training response). The same difference in ?SBP was also observed during a sympathetic stimulation caused by the head-up tilting (+4±8 mmHg vs. −1±5 mmHg, P=0.052, after endurance and resistance training, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The individual responsiveness of SBP to exercise training is related to the mode of training. The healthy subjects whose SBP increase after endurance training intervention results in a decreased SBP after resistance training intervention. Supported by the Ministry of Education, Helsinki, Finland.