Key result
High-intensity interval exercise cuts systolic BP ~8 mmHg post-exercise, while isometric resistance lowers nocturnal BP.
Why the study?
Menopause increases blood pressure and vasomotor symptoms, but the effects of different exercise modalities and vasomotor symptoms on postexercise hypotension were unclear.
Do high-intensity interval exercise and isometric resistance exercise reduce blood pressure compared to a resting control session in normotensive postmenopausal women?
RCT (n=29)
Cross-over
Do high-intensity interval exercise and isometric resistance exercise reduce blood pressure compared to a resting control session in normotensive postmenopausal women?
Both high-intensity interval exercise and isometric resistance exercise induce post-exercise hypotension in normotensive postmenopausal women, with HIIE reducing immediate post-exercise BP and IRE improving nocturnal BP.
Supports HIIE and IRE for acute BP control in normotensive postmenopausal women; extends RCT evidence on timing-specific effects.
Menopause is associated with increased blood pressure (BP) and vasomotor symptoms (VMS), both elevating cardiovascular risk. Exercise can induce postexercise hypotension (PEH), with responses varying by exercise type and population characteristics. This study aimed to (1) examine the effect of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) and isometric resistance exercise (IRE) compared to control session (CONT) on PEH in normotensive postmenopausal women and (2) examine the VMS effect on PEH responses. A cross-over randomized controlled trial was conducted in 29 women (15 with moderate-to-severe VMS, 14 without), aged 55 ± 3 years. HIIE included 2 sets of 12*15-s at 100% maximal aerobic power, IRE included 4*2-min at 30% maximal voluntary contraction, and CONT included a sitting period. PEH was assessed 30 min post-session and with 24-h assessment, providing data on dipping profiles and BP variability. Repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc tests were conducted. HIIE induced systolic PEH at +30 min postexercise compared to pre-exercise (-6.1 mmHg, p = 0.048) and CONT (-8.1 mmHg, p = 0.010). For IRE, nocturnal systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) BP decreased versus CONT (SBP: -3.2 mmHg, p = 0.008; DBP: -2.0 mmHg, p = 0.003) and HIIE (SBP: -3.4 mmHg, p = 0.004; DBP: -2.2 mmHg, p < 0.001), increasing dippers proportion. In women with VMS, nocturnal SBP was lower after IRE than HIIE (-5.6 mmHg, p = 0.002). Both HIIE and IRE induced PEH in postmenopausal women, with HIIE reducing BP +30 min postexercise and IRE improving nocturnal BP and increasing dippers. In women with VMS, the nocturnal BP response varies according to exercise modality. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered on clinicaltrials.gov (n°NCT06533982).
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Bourvellec et al. (2025) conducted an RCT in Normotensive postmenopausal women (n=29). High-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) and isometric resistance exercise (IRE) vs. Control session (sitting) was evaluated on Postexercise hypotension at 30 min post-session and 24-h assessment. High-intensity interval exercise reduced systolic BP at 30 min postexercise vs control (-8.1 mmHg, p=0.010), and isometric resistance exercise decreased nocturnal systolic BP (-3.2 mmHg, p=0.008).
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