The Effect of Different Volumes of Acute Resistance Exercise on Elderly Individuals with Treated Hypertension

Abstract

Acute resistance exercise can reduce the blood pressure (BP) of hypertensive subjects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different volumes of acute low-intensity resistance exercise over the magnitude and the extent of BP changes in treated hypertensive elderly individuals. Sixteen participants (7 men, 9 women), with mean age of 68 ± 5 years, performed 3 independent randomized sessions: Control (C: 40 minutes of rest), Exercise 1 (E1: 20 minutes, 1 lap in the circuit), and Exercise 2 (E2: 40 minutes, 2 laps in the circuit) with the intensity of 40% of 1 repetition maximum. Blood pressure was measured before (during 20 minutes) and after each session (every 5 minutes during 60 minutes) using both a mercury sphygmomanometer and a semiautomatic device (Omrom-HEM-431). After that, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed (Dyna-MAPA). Blood pressure decreased during the first 60 minutes (systolic: p < 0.01, diastolic: p < 0.05) after all exercise sessions. Only the highest volume session promoted a reduction of mean systolic 24-hour BP and awake BP (p < 0.05) after exercise, with higher diastolic BP during sleep (p < 0.05). Diastolic 24-hour BP and both systolic and diastolic BP during sleep were higher after E1 (p < 0.05). Concluding, acute resistive exercise sessions in a circuit with different volumes reduced BP during the first 60 minutes after exercise in elderly individuals with treated hypertension. However, only the highest volume promoted a reduction of mean 24-hour and awake systolic BP.