Acute antihypertensive effect of self-selected exercise intensity in older women with hypertension: a crossover trial

• Main Authors: Costa IBB, Schwade D, Macêdo GAD, Browne RAV, Farias-Junior LF, Freire YA, Sócrates J, Boreskie KF, Duhamel TA, Costa EC
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2019-08-01
• Series: Clinical Interventions in Aging
• Subjects: physical activity; blood pressure; adherence; affect; elderly
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/acute-antihypertensive-effect-of-self-selected-exercise-intensity-in-o-peer-reviewed-article-CIA

Ingrid Bezerra Barbosa Costa,1,2 Daniel Schwade,2 Geovani Araújo Dantas Macêdo,1,2 Rodrigo Alberto Vieira Browne,3,2 Luiz Fernando Farias-Junior,3,2 Yuri Alberto Freire,1,2 Júlio Sócrates,3,2 Kevin F Boreskie,4,5 Todd A Duhamel,4,5 Eduardo Caldas Costa1–31Department of Physical Education, Graduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil; 2Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil; 3Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil; 4Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; 5Faculty of Kinesiology & Recreation Management, Health, Leisure, and Human Performance Research Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, CanadaPurpose: Acute reduction in blood pressure (BP) following an exercise session is evidenced in controlled settings with formal supervision in hypertensive older populations. This study investigated the effect of a self-selected exercise (SSE)-intensity session on ambulatory BP in hypertensive older women in a “real-world” setting.Methods: Twenty inactive older women with hypertension (64.9±4.5 years) were included in this randomized, controlled, crossover trial. After baseline assessments, participants performed 30 minutes of an SSE-intensity session on an outdoor track and a control session, separated by 7-10 days. Heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and affective response were assessed. Ambulatory BP was monitored for 20 hours following both sessions. Paired t-tests and generalized estimation were used for data analysis.Results: Participants exercised at 5.1±1.1 km/h, spent ∼90% of the exercise time at moderate–vigorous intensity (≥40% of heart rate reserve). SSE-intensity session was reported as light (RPE 11.0±1.5) and pleasant (affect 3.4±1.2). SSE-intensity session elicited reductions in systolic BP in the first 6 hours postexercise (6.0 mmHg, CI 2.7–9.3 mmHg; P<0.001). Average systolic BP in the 20-hour (−3.4 mmHg, CI −5.9 to −0.9 mmHg; P=0.010) and awake (−4.0 mmHg, CI −6.4 to −1.6 mmHg; P=0.003) periods were lower following SSE-intensity session compared to control session. No differences were observed in average systolic BP during asleep period and diastolic BP during the 20-hour awake and asleep periods between the SSE-intensity session and control session (P>0.05).Conclusion: An SSE-intensity session elicited a reduction in ambulatory systolic BP in inactive older women with hypertension during awake and 20-hour periods. Also, the SSE-intensity session was reported as light and pleasant.Keywords: physical activity, blood pressure, adherence, affect, elderly