Acute Blood Pressure Changes Following Resistance Exercise in Adults with Hypertension

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Cardiovascular Health
• Hypertension Management

Background:

• Pharmacologically controlled hypertension requires careful consideration of exercise.
• Resistance training is a common modality, but its acute effects on blood pressure (BP) need clarification.
• Understanding exercise-induced BP changes is crucial for patient safety and program design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the acute effects of resistance exercises at low versus high intensities on blood pressure.
• To compare the impact of specific resistance exercises (squats, rows, deadlifts, bench presses) on blood pressure.
• To analyze these effects in individuals with controlled hypertension.

Main Methods:

• A crossover clinical trial design involving 26 participants with hypertension.
• Participants completed two resistance training sessions (low and high intensity) with equal volume.
• Blood pressure was measured pre- and post-exercise for each session.

Main Results:

• Systolic blood pressure (SBP) increased significantly post-exercise, particularly after deadlifts.
• Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) showed no significant overall change from baseline, but squats and deadlifts increased DBP more than rows and bench presses.
• High-intensity resistance training led to lower DBP compared to low-intensity training.

Conclusions:

• Resistance exercise acutely elevates SBP in hypertensive individuals, with squats and deadlifts having the most pronounced effect.
• High-intensity resistance training may be associated with lower post-exercise DBP compared to low-intensity protocols.
• These findings inform exercise prescription for individuals with hypertension.