Effects of the alternance between aerobic and resistance exercise in different concurrent exercise sessions on blood pressure responses of healthy adults: a controlled and randomized study

Abstract

Aerobic exercise (AE) and resistance exercise (RE) have shown benefits in preventing and / or controlling blood pressure (BP), although the influences of these two models (concurrent exercise) in a single session of exercise on BP are still unknown to the individual. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to verify the effects of the alternating between AE and RE in different concurrent exercise sessions on BP responses. In order to do so, ten young male athletes (22.6 ± 3.78 years, 70.3 ± 5.89 kg, 175.96 ± 5.83 cm, 6.8 ± 2.38 % body fat) participated in the study. The tests consisted of four randomized protocols, the sessions consisted of AE followed by RE (AR), RE followed by AE (RA), circuit (CC) (ER and EA alternating intermittently) and control session (CO) (without exercise). AE was performed on a treadmill at 90% of indirect minimum lactate and RE was performed on a circuit at 90% of 12 RM, alternating muscle segments in six exercises. BP was measured in all protocols and post-exercise recovery period (PERP) every 15 minutes during one hour. Results showed a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP) at the 45th minute of recovery (R45) and one-hour mean values of the PERP in the RA protocol when compared to its value at rest. Diastolic and mean BP showed no significant differences. Thus, the RA session promoted a more accentuated decrease in SBP when compared to the other sessions.