High intensity interval training (HIIT) improves resting blood pressure, metabolic (MET) capacity and heart rate reserve without compromising cardiac function in sedentary aging men

Fergal Grace; Peter Herbert; Adrian D Elliott; Jo Richards; Alexander Beaumont; Nicholas F Sculthorpe

doi:10.1016/j.exger.2017.05.010

High intensity interval training (HIIT) improves resting blood pressure, metabolic (MET) capacity and heart rate reserve without compromising cardiac function in sedentary aging men

Exp Gerontol. 2018 Aug:109:75-81. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2017.05.010. Epub 2017 May 13.

Authors

Fergal Grace¹, Peter Herbert², Adrian D Elliott³, Jo Richards⁴, Alexander Beaumont⁵, Nicholas F Sculthorpe⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Health Sciences & Psychology, Faculty of Health, Federation University, Mt Helen, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: F.Grace@federation.edu.au.
² University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Camarthen Campus, Camarthen, Wales SA31 3EP, United Kingdom.
³ Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia.
⁴ Faculty of Education & Sport, University of Bedfordshire, Polihill campus, Bedford MK4 9EA, United Kingdom.
⁵ Institute of Clinical Exercise & Health Sciences, School of Science and Sport, University of the West of Scotland, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland ML3 0JB, United Kingdom.

PMID: 28511954
DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2017.05.010

Abstract

Background: This study examined a programme of pre-conditioning exercise with subsequent high intensity interval training (HIIT) on blood pressure, echocardiography, cardiac strain mechanics and maximal metabolic (MET) capacity in sedentary (SED) aging men compared with age matched masters athletes (LEX).

Methods: Using a STROBE compliant observational design, 39 aging male participants (SED; n=22, aged 62.7±5.2yrs) (LEX; n=17, aged=61.1±5.4yrs) were recruited to a study that necessitated three distinct assessment phases; enrolment (Phase A), following pre-conditioning exercise in SED (Phase B), then following 6weeks of HIIT performed once every five days by both groups before reassessment (Phase C). Hemodynamic, echocardiographic and cardiac strain mechanics were obtained at rest and maximal cardiorespiratory and chronotropic responses were obtained at each measurement phase.

Results: The training intervention improved systolic, mean arterial blood pressure, rate pressure product and heart rate reserve (each P<0.05) in SED and increased MET capacity in both SED and LEX (P<0.01) which was amplified by HIIT. Echocardiography and cardiac strain measures were unremarkable apart from trivial increase to intra-ventricular septum diastole (IVSd) (P<0.05) and decrease to left ventricular internal dimension diastole (LVId) (P<0.05) in LEX following HIIT.

Conclusions: A programme of preconditioning exercise with HIIT induces clinically relevant improvements in blood pressure, rate pressure product and encourages recovery of heart rate reserve in SED, while improving maximal MET capacity in both SED and LEX without inducing any pathological cardiovascular remodeling. These data add to the emerging repute of HIIT as a safe and promising exercise prescription to improve cardiovascular function and metabolic capacity in sedentary aging.

Keywords: Aging; Blood pressure; Cardiac structure; Cardiovascular function; High intensity interval training (HIIT).

MeSH terms

Aged
Blood Pressure*
Heart Rate*
High-Intensity Interval Training*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Oxygen Consumption
Sedentary Behavior*