Different training programs decrease blood pressure during submaximal exercise

Our purpose was to study the effects of aerobic, resistance, and mixed (aerobic and resistance) training programs on blood pressure, both at rest and during submaximal exercise in healthy people.

We randomized 39 physically active, healthy participants into aerobic, resistance, and mixed (aerobic and resistance) exercise groups, and a control group. The exercise groups trained for 60 min three times/week for 6 weeks, and a submaximal cycle ergometer test was performed before and after training, and 3 weeks after detraining. Continuous blood pressure was determined before and during the test.

At the submaximal test, both systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after detraining in the exercise groups. However, between pre-training and detraining, we found significant reductions at rest only in the mixed exercise group (p < 0.05).

Although all exercise had similar effects on blood pressure during submaximal exercise, the mixed aerobic and resistance exercise may be optimal for blood pressure reduction, by the addition of diverse physiological pathways.