Non-Drug Methods of Rehabilitation of Power Sports Athletes with Arterial Hypertension: Randomized Controlled Study

The paper discusses the effects of high-intensity interval aerobic training on blood pressure, body composition, oxidative capacity, and muscle strength in power sports athletes of heavy-weight categories. Overall, 55 hypertensive heavy-weight athletes of comparable age, sex, and clinical findings underwent examination and physical rehabilitation. Athletes were randomized into the main (n = 35) and control (n = 20) groups. The main group trained for 120 days (3 times a week) exercising on a bicycle according to a high-intensity interval protocol; the control group trained 120 days (3 times a week) but followed the traditional strength-building protocol. Before and upon completion of physical rehabilitation, the athletes were subjected to comprehensive examination, including an interview, medical check-up, a triple blood pressure measurement, bioimpedancemetry, ergospirometry, body index calculation, and a test for assessing the maximal voluntary strength of the m. quadriceps femoris. The rehabilitation improved bioimpedancemetry parameters, reduced blood pressure (BP) significantly (systolic BP by 4.7% and diastolic BP by 5.6%), and increased oxygen consumption and quadriceps femoris strength. The study showed that the therapeutic and prophylactic effect of the cardiovascular system is influenced by high-intensity aerobic interval work, but not by bioimpedance data. The authors developed an aerobic training protocol for safe and successful prophylaxis and therapy of hypertension in athletes without reducing the strength of leg muscles.