Effect of Circuit Training on Resting Blood Pressure: An Experimental Study in Hypertensive Older Women

Background: Hypertension is considered a primary risk factor for heart disease in the elderly. However, strength training can help control blood pressure levels. Methods: Twenty elderly hypertensive women (73.6 ± 8.1 years, 61.6 ± 11.8 kg, 153.3 ± 5.8 cm) were recruited to participate in this study. All of them underwent resting blood pressure, anthropometric and muscle strength measurements. The training protocol was performed in a circuit (CT), with three sets of 8 to 10 repetitions with 30-second intervals between sets and 1 minute between sequences. Training was performed twice a week for twelve weeks. The exercises were performed following this sequence: leg press, bench press, knee extension, lat pulldown, plantar flexion, and triceps extension. Results: After 12 weeks of CT, significant improvements in body composition (p≤0.05), increased levels of muscle strength (p = 0.001) and reduced systolic blood pressure (p = 0.001) were observed. There were no differences in body weight, BMI, and diastolic blood pressure (p = ≥0.05). Conclusion: The CT protocol is efficient for improving physical conditioning and reducing systolic blood pressure in hypertensive older women.