BLOOD PRESSURE IN HYPERTENSIVE WOMEN AFTER AEROBICS AND HYDROGYMNASTICS SESSIONS.

INTRODUCTION: regular exercise has been recommended as an important behavior in controlling blood pressure. In recent years it has been demonstrated that a single session of exercise can lower blood pressure levels compared to pre-exercise period, becoming an effective non-pharmacological therapy for the treatment of hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: the purpose of this study was to analyze the levels of blood pressure in post-exercise period of controlled hypertension women after an aerobics session and a hydrogymnastics session.

METHODS: twelve elderly (65 ± 3.6 years) who practice regular physical activity for at least two months had their levels of blood pressure measured during 60 minutes after the end of each session. Blood pressure was measured every five minutes after the end of each session until the twentieth minute of recovery. Following, blood pressure was measured every ten minutes. T-student test was used to compare mean and the level of significance adopted was 5%.

RESULTS: the mean values of hypotension found during the recovery period after the hydrogymnastics session were not significantly different when compared to blood pressure levels of the pre-exercise period (p = 0.260). However, the result of the same comparison for the aerobics session was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The lowest values of systolic blood pressure reached in the recovery period for hydrogymnastics (120 mmHg) and aerobics (106 mmHg) were significantly different (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: the aerobics session showed to be more effective in reducing post-exercise blood pressure compared to the hydrogymnastics. After practice aerobics, the participants presented lower blood pressure levels and longer duration of the hypotensive effect.