LAUSR

The condition in which a single bout of mild-to-moderate exercise leads to a postexercise decrease in blood pressure (BP) is called postexercise hypotension (PEH). The existing evidence suggests that PEH occurs after aerobic exercise sessions as well as resistance exercise sessions [1, 2]. Recently, a positive association was demonstrated between PEH and long-term effects of exercise training, suggesting that PEH is a predictor of the effects of training on BP [3]. However, the data showing this relationship were mostly based on aerobic training, while resistance training (RT) remains poorly studied [3–5]. Moreover, there is a lack of data on this effect in middle-aged hypertensive individuals undergoing treatment, who are usually asymptomatic. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine whether there is an association between PEH and chronic changes in BP in middle-aged hypertensive individuals undergoing treatment after 8 weeks of RT. PEH was evaluated weekly throughout the follow-up period. This is an uncontrolled pilot study involving hypertensive individuals enrolled in an RT program. Before and after the exercise intervention (48–72 h after the last exercise session), the subjects underwent body composition and office blood pressure (OBP) evaluations. The subjects completed three exercise sessions a week for 8 weeks, and PEH and OBP were evaluated once a week throughout the 8-week follow-up period. During the intervention, the participants were asked to not alter their diet, to not perform physical exercises other than those recommended for the study and to maintain the same antihypertensive medication. Patients were recruited from the community. Complete exercise, medical, drug and hypertension histories were recorded. The study inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) individuals using antihypertensive medication; (2) individuals with a BP in the target normal range (120–80 mmHg) or below; and (3) individuals 30–59 years of age. The exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) BMI > 40 kg/m, (2) participation in regular exercise training within the previous 6 months; (3) a change in antihypertensive drugs within the previous 4 weeks or during the study; and (4) the use of tobacco products. The study was approved by the local ethics committee and was performed in accordance with the current (2013) version of the Helsinki declaration. Standing height and body weight were measured using standard anthropometric procedures. Muscle thickness measurements were obtained using a LOGIQ-E ultrasound system equipped with a 9.0 MHz linear-array transducer (General Electric Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI, USA). BP measurements were made using an automated oscillometric device (Omron, HEM-907, Japan) after the patients rested in the sitting position. OBP was accessed once a week before the last exercise session of the week. PEH was accessed in a quiet room after 30 min of rest. To calculate the Δ PEH, the PEH values were subtracted from the OBP values recorded before the RT session. Associations between Δ PEH and chronic effects of RT were assessed with respect to the first-week PEH values and changes in OBP (Δ OBP). The RT protocol consisted of 2–3 sets of 10– 20 submaximal repetitions. To prevent the BP from peaking during exercise sessions, individuals performed the target range of repetitions of the following exercises at the maximum weight that they could move with a good technique (without concentric failure): bench press, leg press, lat pulldown, leg extension, shoulder press, leg curl, bicep curl, triceps pulley [6]. * Francesco P. Boeno [email protected]