Hypotensive effect of resistance exercises performed with different intensities in hypertensive elderly women

Systemic arterial hypertension represents one of the principal risk factors for the increase of cardiovascular diseases, especially in the elderly people. On post-exercise, blood pressure responses (BP) may decrease and this effect have a relevant clinical importance. However, further studies are needed to better understand the effects of different intensities and exercise modes. The aim of this study was to analyse the hypotensive effect of resistance exercises on BP of controlled hypertensive women performed at different intensities. The study sample was composed by 13 hypertensive elderly women (65.5±4.2 years), submitted to two different training intensities: 50% and 70% of 10 RM. After the resistant exercise systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured during 1 hour and every 10 minutes. Significant differences were found only in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) measured at 10 (p=0.034), 20 (p=0.042), 30 (p=0.031), 45 (p=0.035) and 60 minutes (p=0.017) after the effort. Our data suggest that resistance exercise does not result in PEH in hypertensive elderly women without significant effects on diastolic blood pressure at different intensities. *Correspondence to: Aldo M. Costa, Department of Sports Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal, Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD, Vila Real, Portugal, Health Sciences Research Center, CICS-UBI, Covilhã, Portugal, E-mail: anapereiraphd@gmail.com