Blood pressure pattern following a combined exercise session in hypertensive older women

Objective: The aim of the present study was to verify the behavior of hemodynamic variables in hypertensive older women following a combined exercise session and to identify the intensity of effort achieved in this session. Method: The study included 14 hypertensive older women (72.0±6.7 years old) who regularly practiced physical activities. The participants underwent a one-hour combined exercise session performed in a group, with intensity of effort monitored by accelerometry (Actigraph, model GT3X+). The hemodynamic parameters (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output and peripheral vascular resistance) were individually measured by finger photoplethysmography (Finometer) before and after (60 min) the exercise session. Results: The sessions consisted predominantly of low-light intensity activities (60%) and 20% of class time was spent on sedentary behavior. None of the evaluated variables exhibited changes when the pre and post-exercise values were compared (p>0.05). Systolic blood pressure behavior correlated positively with time spent in sedentary behavior (r=0.541; p=0.045). Conclusion: The combined exercise sessions, as conducted, did not generate post-exercise hypotension. In addition, the time spent in typically sedentary activities during the classes positively correlated with changes in blood pressure, suggesting that combined exercise programs, applied in the form of collective aerobic exercises, should be composed of higher intensity activities.