Post-Exercise Hypotension: Comparison Between Different Intensities Of Exercise On A Treadmill And A Cycle Ergometer

Resumen

To compare the hypotensive effects of exercise sessions performed on treadmill and cycle ergometer and to verify the infl uence of the intensity of such exercise sessions on post-exercise hypotension (PEH). Ten normotensive male subjects (24.9 ± 3.9 years; 78.3 ± 9.2 kg; 176.9 ± 4.9 cm) performed 4 exercise sessions on different days: two incremental exercise sessions on a cycle ergometer and a treadmill running until volitional exhaustion, and two continuous exercise sessions (20 min) on a cycle ergometer and a treadmill at intensities corresponding to 85% of maximal heart rate (max HR) reached during the incremental tests. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured on resting, at the end of exercises and during the 90 minute post-exercise recovery period. After the incremental and continuous sessions on the treadmill SBP presented a signifi cant reduction at the 45th and 90th minutes and DBP was reduced throughout the entire post-exercise recovery period (P < 0.05). Post-exercise SBP hypotension was observed at the 90th min of recovery from the incremental and continuous exercise sessions performed on the cycle ergometer, whereas post-exercise DBP hypotension was only observed at the 90th minute of recovery from the continuous submaximal session (p < 0.05). Exercise in the form of running on the treadmill was more effective for inducing PEH than exercise performed on the cycle ergometer. The exercise intensities studied did not appear to infl uence PEH either after treadmill running or cycle ergometer sessions.