Post-resistance exercise hypotension in patients with intermittent claudication

Abstract

Objective: To verify the acute effects of resistance exercise on post-exercise blood pressure in patients with intermittent claudication.

Methods: Eight patients randomly underwent two experimental sessions: a session of resistance exercise (R: 6 exercises, 3 sets of 12, 10 and 8 reps with a perceived exertion of 11 to 13 on the 15-grade Borg scale) and a control session (C: resting on exercise machines).

Results: Before and for 60 min following an intervention, auscultatory blood pressure was measured while subjects rested in a sitting position. After the C session, systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressures did not change from the pre-intervention values, while these values decreased significantly after the R session throughout the entire recovery period (greatest decreases = -14 ± 5, -6 ± 5, and -9 ± 4 mmHg, respectively, P < 0.05).

Conclusion: After a single bout of resistance exercise patients with intermittent claudication exhibited reduced systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressures, suggesting that acute resistance exercise may decrease cardiovascular load in these patients.

Figure 1

Systolic blood pressure measured pre‐intervention, and at 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after the interventions in the control (dashed line with triangles) and the resistance exercise (solid line with squares) sessions. * Significantly different from pre‐intervention (P<0.05). † Significantly different from the control session (P<0.05).

Figure 2

Diastolic blood pressure measured pre‐intervention, and at 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after the interventions in the control (dashed line with triangles) and the resistance exercise (solid line with squares) sessions. * Significantly different from pre‐intervention (P<0.05). † Significantly different from the control session (P<0.05).

Figure 3

Mean blood pressure measured pre‐intervention, and at 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after the interventions in the control (dashed line with triangles) and the resistance exercise (solid line with squares) sessions. * Significantly different from pre‐intervention (P<0.05). † Significantly different from the control session (P<0.05).