Active intervals between sets and exercise of resistance exercises potentiate the magnitude of post-exercise hypotension in middle-aged hypertensive women

Walking/run promotes greater post-exercise hypotension (PEH) than resistance exercise (RE) which can be associated nitric oxide production. Then, we investigated if adding walking between RE increases PEH.

Thirteen hypertensive women (48 ± 1.9 years; 26.8 ± 0.3 kg/m²) performed five experimental sessions: 1—traditional RE with passive interval (PIBS); 2—RE with active interval between sets (AIBS); 3—RE with active interval between exercises (AIEX); 4—aerobic exercise (AE); 5—no exercise. Blood pressure was measured before and immediately after exercise and every 10 min of a 60-min post-exercise recovery period. Plasma nitrite (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also measured.

AIBS, AIEX, and AE sessions promoted systolic PEH (12 ± 1.53; 16 ± 2.13; 18 ± 1.34 mmHg, respectively) and diastolic PEH (8 ± 1.38; 8 ± 0.79; 8 ± 0.58 mmHg). In AIBS, AIEX and AE sessions, significant PEH was noted at 10 or 20 min; in PIBS, PEH was significant only at 40 min. In the PIBS session, NO did not change, but presented higher values after AIBS, AIEX and AE sessions. MDA showed no changes between sessions.

Passive or active intervals in resistance exercise promote PEH in hypertensive women. Active intervals shorten the PEH onset time as additional benefit.