Effect of 12 weeks of resistance exercise on post-exercise hypotension in stage 1 hypertensive individuals

J Hum Hypertens. 2012 Sep;26(9):533-9. doi: 10.1038/jhh.2011.67. Epub 2011 Jul 7.

Abstract

Post-exercise hypotension (PEH), the reduction of blood pressure (BP) after a single bout of exercise, is of great clinical relevance. As the magnitude of this phenomenon seems to be dependent on pre-exercise BP values and chronic exercise training in hypertensive individuals leads to BP reduction; PEH could be attenuated in this context. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether PEH remains constant after resistance exercise training. Fifteen hypertensive individuals (46 ± 8 years; 88 ± 16 kg; 30 ± 6% body fat; 150 ± 13/93 ± 5 mm Hg systolic/diastolic BP, SBP/DBP) were withdrawn from medication and performed 12 weeks of moderate-intensity resistance training. Parameters of cardiovascular function were evaluated before and after the training period. Before the training program, hypertensive volunteers showed significant PEH. After an acute moderate-intensity resistance exercise session with three sets of 12 repetitions (60% of one repetition maximum) and a total of seven exercises, BP was reduced post-exercise (45-60 min) by an average of aproximately -22 mm Hg for SBP, -8 mm Hg for DBP and -13 mm Hg for mean arterial pressure (P<0.05). However, this acute hypotensive effect did not occur after the 12 weeks of training (P>0.05). In conclusion, our data demonstrate that PEH, following an acute exercise session, can indeed be attenuated after 12 weeks of training in hypertensive stage 1 patients not using antihypertensive medication.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / drug therapy
  • Hypertension / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Post-Exercise Hypotension / physiopathology*
  • Resistance Training*
  • Severity of Illness Index

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents