ACUTE EFFECT OF A SERIAL RESISTENCE EXERCISE SESSION WITH INTENSE LOAD ON BLOOD PRESSURE

Abstract

Introduction: Physical exercise provokes a series of physiological responses resulting from autonomic and hemodynamic changes that may influence the cardiovascular system and some studies have demonstrated its beneficial effect on blood pressure. Objective: To investigate the effect of resistance exercise of high intensity on the responses of blood pressure. Methods: Study participants were 12 normotensive men aged 24,9 ± 2,43; body mass 71,68 ± 5,18kg; height 173 ± 0,16 in; IMC 23,83 ± 1,60 kg/m2 and % fat of 16,84±2,99. The volunteers attended the laboratory for three trial sessions of weight training on alternated days: 1 – maximum load (1-RM) in six exercises (leg extension, bench press machine, leg curl and rowing machine), 2 and 3 – in random order for the experimental sessions: 3 sets of 8 repetitions of resistance exercise at 80% 1-RM session and a control (CONT) without performing the exercise. The variables measured at rest and after the experimental sessions, within 60 minutes of recovery were systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics with mean and standard deviation. Two-way ANOVA for repeated measures was applied for comparison of results within and between experimental sessions with Post-hoc de Tukey test when necessary to detect possible differences (p < 0,05). The software Statistics for Windows 6.0 was employed. Results: It is observed that there was a significant decrease in SBP after 60 minutes of post-exercise when compared to values at the end of the exercise, but there was no significant difference in DBP at any time of the study. Conclusion: It is concluded that there was significant decrease in SBP at the 60 minutes of recovery compared to the values observed at the end of the exercise, but when compared to resting values no hypotensive effect was observed.