Key result
Low-intensity resistance exercise combined with blood flow restriction significantly reduced systolic blood pressure and improved autonomic nervous system function compared to high-intensity and low-intensity resistance exercise.
Why the study?
The effect of resistance exercise on the autonomic nervous system of patients with hypertension has not been identified.
Does low-intensity resistance exercise combined with blood flow restriction improve blood pressure and autonomic nervous system function in hypertension patients?
RCT (n=45)
Randomly equally divided
No
Does low-intensity resistance exercise combined with blood flow restriction improve blood pressure and autonomic nervous system function in hypertension patients?
Absolute Event Rate: 129.7% vs 142.9%
p-value: p=<0.01
May favor low-intensity resistance with blood flow restriction for BP and autonomic regulation in hypertension; hypothesis-generating, needs larger trials.
Background: The effect of resistance exercise on the autonomic nervous system of patients with hypertension has not been identified. Objective: To explore a suitable resistance training method for hypertension patients to regulate blood pressure (BP) and autonomic nervous system function. Method: Forty-five hypertension patients aged between 55 and 70 years were randomly equally divided into three groups: the high-intensity resistance exercise (HE) group, the low-intensity resistance exercise combined with blood flow restriction (LE-BFR) group, and the low-intensity resistance exercise (LE) group. All patients performed quadriceps femoris resistance exercise. The exercise intensity of HE, LE-BFR and LE group was 65, 30 and 30% of one repetition maximum (1RM), respectively. The LE-BFR group used pressure cuffs to provide 130% of systolic pressure to the patient’s thighs during resistance exercise. The training program was 20 times/min/set with a 1-min break after each set, and was conducted five sets/day and 3 days/week, lasting for 12 weeks. The heart rate (HR), BP, root-mean-square of difference-value of adjacent RR intervals (RMSSD), low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) were evaluated before and after the first training and the last training. Result: Significant differences in HR were observed in both recovery states after the first and last training ( p < 0.01). After 12 weeks of training, the recovery speed of HR in the LE-BFR group increased significantly ( p < 0.01). The systolic blood pressures in the HE and LE-BFR group were significantly reduced ( p < 0.05 and p < 0.01), and the differences among groups were significant ( p < 0.01). In the last recovery state, the RMSSD of the LE group was significantly lower than that in the first recovery state ( p < 0.01). The LF/HF ratios of the HE and LE groups in the resting and recovery states were increased significantly (all p < 0.01). LF/HF ratios in the LE-BFR group in the resting and recovery state were decreased significantly (both p < 0.01). Conclusion: Compared to HE and LE, LE-BFR could effectively decrease systolic pressure and regulate the autonomic nervous system function in hypertension patients.
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Zhao et al. (2022) conducted an RCT in Hypertension (n=45). Low-intensity resistance exercise combined with blood flow restriction (LE-BFR) vs. High-intensity resistance exercise (HE) and Low-intensity resistance exercise (LE) was evaluated on Systolic blood pressure at 12 weeks (p=<0.01). Low-intensity resistance exercise combined with blood flow restriction significantly reduced systolic blood pressure and improved autonomic nervous system function compared to high-intensity and low-intensity resistance exercise.
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