Effects of a single beach tennis session on short-term blood pressure variability in individuals with hypertension: a randomized crossover trial

Abstract

Despite the importance of blood pressure (BP) variability to estimate cardiovascular risk in patients with hypertension, not all exercise modalities can reduce short-term BP variability, and no studies have measured the acute effects of recreational sports on short-term BP variability. We investigated the acute effects of a single beach tennis (BT) session on short-term BP variability in individuals with hypertension. Twenty-two participants took part in this randomized clinical trial. They were randomly allocated to a BT session and a nonexercise control session (Con). BT and Con sessions lasted 45 min. Office BP and heart rate were measured throughout the experimental sessions to calculate rate-pressure products and estimate the cardiovascular demand of BT. To determine short-term BP variability after BT and Con sessions, average real variability (ARV) of systolic BP and diastolic BP was assessed over 24 h using ambulatory BP monitoring. Compared with Con, there were lower 24-h (Δ, −0.9 ± 0.4 mmHg; P = 0.049) and daytime (Δ, −1.4 ± 0.5 mmHg; P = 0.004) ARV of diastolic BP after BT. There were no significant differences in ARV of systolic BP between Con and BT. There was a higher rate-pressure product found during BT (P < 0.001). However, after the experimental sessions, there was no significant difference between BT and Con for the rate-pressure product under ambulatory conditions. In conclusion, a single BT session reduced daytime and 24-h diastolic BP variability in adults with hypertension. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03909308.

Isometric handgrip exercise impacts only on very short-term blood pressure variability, but not on short-term blood pressure variability in hypertensive individuals: A randomized controlled trial

“…The result suggests that the BPV reduction in the recovery period was not prolonged during the subsequent 24-h period. There are few studies evaluating the effect of exercise and short-term BPV ( Domingues et al, 2022 ) ( Ash et al, 2017 ) ( Carpes et al, 2021 ); however, none assessed the effect of IHG. Our findings at the laboratory suggest that a single bout of isometric resistance exercise with handgrip (at 30% CVM) was sufficient to acutely reduce resting systolic and diastolic BP, but not to sustain PEH afterward, as it has been shown ( Ash et al, 2017 ).…”

“…The lack of effect on 24-h BP was also confirmed in resistance ( Queiroz et al, 2015 ) and other types of exercises ( Saco-Ledo et al, 2021 ). A session of recreational sport was able to decrease short-term diastolic BPV ( Domingues et al, 2022 ) and systolic and diastolic BP by 24-h, daytime and nighttime ( Carpes et al, 2021 ).…”

“…In addition to reducing BP levels, a reduction in BP variability might contribute to cardiovascular protection ( Mena et al, 2017 ), and it is critical to determine whether an acute exercise session can modulate short-term BP variability ( Rickson et al, 2021 ). The mechanisms that associate BP variability with cardiovascular events are not fully understood, and short- and long-term PEH reflect different physiological and pathological phenomena ( Saco-Ledo et al, 2021 ) ( Juhanoja et al, 2016 ) of BPV ( Mena et al, 2017 ) ( Domingues et al, 2022 ) ( Diaz et al, 2014 ). Therefore, the clinical relevance of each BPV measurement depends on the method and the interval between measurements because different mechanisms and extrinsic factors can determine BP fluctuations ( Juhanoja et al, 2016 ).…”

“…The so-called post-exercise hypotension (PEH), an acute increase in BP during exercise followed by a reduction at the end of the exercise ( Ferrari et al, 2017 ), could be advantageous if it were able to prolong PEH beyond the recovery period ( Carpes et al, 2021 ). Particularly, the reduction in daytime or even 24-h diastolic BPV, as observed after a single session of beach tennis ( Domingues et al, 2022 ), could be a complementary therapeutic target to be pursued. However, the acute effect of IHG exercise on PEH is controversial ( Ash et al, 2017 ) ( Rickson et al, 2021 ) and poorly explored.…”