Acute responses of blood pressure, heart rate and rating of perceived exertion in hypertensive patients

Abstract

Objective: To assess and compare acute responses in arterial blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion scale (PES) during a variable-resistance weight-lifting circuit (WC) versus submaximal aerobic exercise in cycloergometer (AE) in individuals with hypertension scaled I and II. Methods: 21 subjects with controlled hypertension scaled I and II (8 males and 13 females, 15 actives and 6 sedentary, age 56±5.9 years) were evaluated. All the participants received training about warm-up, use of PES, and respiratory and weight lifting machines techniques in exercise. All underwent a single session of WC in six stations at 50% 1RM and a single session of AE at 70%-80% FCmax, in intervals of one week. BP, HR and PES was measured in both exercises. Results: To compare responses in both types of exercise, at Test was used. It found a lower response of HR (p<0.001), systolic BP (p<0.005) and PES (p<0.005) during WC. Greater diastolic BP response was found in WC, although it was not significative (p=0.139). Sedentary subjects showed greater increases. Responses of variables were similar between stations in WC. Conclusion: This study evidenced a similar behavior of acute cardiovascular responses and PES during WC versus AE in hypertensive subjects. It showed a lower pressure response during WC in subjects with previous aerobic training.