Anxiolytic and Blood Pressure Effects of Acute Static Compared to Dynamic Exercise

This experiment tested whether state anxiety and blood pressure responses to exercise were influenced by the type of muscular contraction performed. On testing day 1, 11 volunteers completed one-repetition maximums (1-RMs) separately for the right and left limbs: arm extension, arm flexion, leg extension and leg flexion (8 total exercises). On two subsequent days, which were randomly ordered, subjects completed 24 minutes of either static or dynamic exercise. Both the static and dynamic exercise conditions involved eight 3-min exercise periods performed at an intensity equal to 10% of 1-RM and separated by a 1-min rest period. In the dynamic exercise condition, exercise was performed at a rate of 20 contractions x min(-1). State anxiety and blood pressure were assessed immediately before as well as 3, 13, and 23 minutes following exercise. Heart rate was assessed continuously during exercise, and overall ratings of perceived exertion were obtained during the last 15 seconds of each 3-min exercise period. Two-way repeated measures ANOVAs revealed that state anxiety and systolic blood pressure were reduced to a similar degree following both static and dynamic exercise. It is concluded that anxiety and systolic blood pressure responses to acute exercise are not mediated by the type of muscle contraction performed.