Cardiovascular responses in elderly hypertensive women after a resistance exercise session with different movement speeds

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to analyze the acute effect of a resistance exercise session on cardiovascular and perceptual responses using the slow movement speed compared to the traditional movement speed in hypertensive elderly women. Experimental research was carried out with eleven elderly women (66.5± 4.8 years) active and with medication-controlled hypertension in the city of Tabuleiro do Norte, Ceará, Brazil. The elderly women were randomly submitted to a RE session with 60% of 1 RM with slow movement speed or traditional. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, mean blood pressure, and double product were measured before exercise and after sessions for one hour. The post-exercise analysis showed a more marked reduction in systolic blood pressure, heart rate, mean blood pressure, and double product values (p< 0.05) in slow movement speed compared to baseline values, however, there were no significant differences in post-exercise hypotension between contraction speeds (p> 0.05). Differences were found in the rating of perceived exertion (p= 0.007). Slow movement speed and traditional movement speed promoted post-exercise hypotension in elderly hypertensive women on medication.

Keywords: aging, resistance training, post-exercise hypotension, hypertension