Blood pressure changes during heavy-resistance exercise

J Hypertens Suppl. 1989 Dec;7(6):S72-3. doi: 10.1097/00004872-198900076-00032.

Abstract

To study the mechanisms of the blood pressure changes during weight-lifting, three hypertensive and five normotensive body-builders underwent continuous intra-arterial monitoring. In two subjects (one normotensive and one hypertensive), intrathoracic and intra-abdominal pressures were also measured. Extremely high blood pressure elevations of up to 345/245 mmHg were observed during the lifts. Squatting caused the highest pressure rises and single-arm curls the lowest. Both the intrathoracic and the intra-abdominal pressures increased greatly during each lift and closely paralleled the changes in intra-arterial pressure. A close correlation was found between the blood pressure increase during the exercise and during a hand-grip test (r = 0.95, P less than 0.001). These results suggest that a pronounced increase in intra-thoracic and intra-abdominal pressures is a major determinant of the blood pressure elevations occurring during weight-lifting. The pressor reflex which accompanies static contractions and the individual baseline blood pressure levels also seem to affect the height of the pressure peaks.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Pressure / physiology*
  • Blood Pressure Determination / methods
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Valsalva Maneuver / physiology
  • Weight Lifting