Sex and exercise-mode differences in postexercise blood pressure and heart rate variability responses during a workday

Abstract

Aims: To assess the influences of sex and exercise mode on post-exercise Blood Pressure (BP) immediately after exercise and during daily work. Methods: 20 healthy adults (9F/11M), randomly underwent three experimental sessions prior to their work routine: RE- Circuit resistance exercise at 40% of 1RM, AE- Aerobic exercise at 60-70% of heart rate (HR) reserve and CON- Control session. BP was assessed before and along the 1st hour of the post-intervention period (i.e. laboratory phase), and intermittently for 9h in the workplace. Results: RE promoted great BP reductions, but only in men, and this reduction persisted along the daily work (Men-RE: SBP= -1069±695 mmHg.540min; DBP= -612±325 mmHg.540min). On the other hand, AE produced slight DBP reduction in men during daily work (Men-AE: DBP= -241±730 mmHg.540min), and in women only in the laboratory phase (Women-AE: SBP= -108±65mmHg.60min). Conclusion: Resistance exercise promotes a significant positive impact on BP in men but does not seem to be effective for women. On the other hand, AE produces moderate BP reductions in men and women.