Post-isometric Exercise Hypotension After Moderate intensity Handgrip Exercise In Hypertensive Elderly

Abstract

Hypertension is common in people aged 65 or more. The isometric handgrip (IHG) is a model of effective exercise in reducing blood pressure (BP). However, the mechanisms involved in post-isometric exercise hypotension (PIEH) remain unclear. Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent vasodilator and may be involved in PIEH. PURPOSE: To determine the response hypotensive and mechanism involving in older with arterial hypertension. METHODS: Ten sedentary hypertensive elderly (73.2±2.2 years), underwent two experimental sessions using a portable isometric handgrip dynamometer Jamar; (i) sham session with 3 percent of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC); and (ii) experimental isometric session with 30 percent of MVIC, total of 8 sets of 1 min contraction and 1 min rest pause. The BP and heart rate (HR) were evaluated at rest and post- exercise (1, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min). Saliva samples were collected at rest, 0, 30 and 60 min post-exercise. RESULTS: Systolic BP (SBP) presented a reduction from the 10th min post-exercise to 30 percent MVIC (p < 0.05). At 60 min post-exercise the SBP was lower 30 percent vs. 3 percent MVIC (p = 0.006). There were no differences for diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure, HR and NO metabolites. The results demonstrated that IHG exercise at 30 percent MVIC was tolerated by elderly individuals and induced an PIEH for up to 60 min, but there was no association with NO- salivar metabolite. CONCLUSIONS: Yet, this portable equipment of cost-effective, easy performance and short duration can be an excellent adjuvant strategy in the control and prevention of arterial hypertension in elderly. Supported by FAPDF Grant 032015 193.000.963