This study investigated the acute post-exercise effect of high-velocity
resistance exercise on ambulatory blood pressure in hypertensive older women.
Fourteen volunteers (67.9±5.1 years) performed a high-velocity
resistance exercise session (8 exercises using Thera-Band, 3 sets of 6
repetitions as fast as possible in the concentric phase with moderate intensity)
and a control session, separated by a 7–10-day period. Ambulatory blood
pressure was monitored following 12-h post-sessions and compared between
conditions at 1 to 4-h, 5 to 8-h, and 9 to 12-h. Average 24-h ambulatory blood
pressure, awake, asleep periods, and blood pressure load were also analyzed.
There was a condition by time interaction for systolic ambulatory blood pressure
over 12-h post-sessions (P=0.043). It was observed a lower systolic
ambulatory blood pressure in the first 4-h period following the high-velocity
resistance exercise session compared to the control session
(−6.7 mmHg, 95% CI − 11.6 to
−1.8 mmHg; P=0.011). No changes were observed for
diastolic ambulatory blood pressure over 12-h post-sessions as well as for the
other variables analyzed (P>0.05). In summary, a single high-velocity
resistance exercise session elicits a post-exercise antihypertensive effect and
may be considered as a strategy to acutely improve blood pressure control in
hypertensive older women.