Blood pressure response in normotensive subjects after aerobic and resistance exercises

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the blood pressure response during 60 min after two different exercise sessions (aerobic and resistance). Ten healthy men (49±5 years; 77±4 kg; 176±7 cm) performed in two non-consecutive days 40 min of aerobic exercise with 60% of maximal heart rate and 40 min of resistance exercise (10 stations) with 60% of one’s maximal repetition (three sets, 12 repetitions). Blood pressure was evaluated in rest and during 60 min after exercises. No statistical difference occurred in blood pressure after resistance exercise, comparatively to baseline. However, after aerobic exercise systolic blood pressure decreased significantly in all measures (p<0,05). Diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly when compared to baseline 20 min after aerobic exercise (p<0,05). These finds suggest that submaximal aerobic exercise was more efficient than resistance exercise to decrease systolic blood pressure post-exercise.