Resistance Training Promotes Reduction in Blood Pressure and Increase Plasma Adiponectin of Hypertensive Elderly Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Hypertension is the most common disease in industrialized countries, and it is responsible for the major risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases. Aging increases the prevalence of hypertension and the loss of muscle mass. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of resistance training on blood pressure and inflammatory markers in hypertensive elderly. Methods: One hundred thirty-five hypertensive elderly were distributed into two groups: training (TG, n=86), and control (CG, n=49). TG underwent 16 weeks of resistance training with three sets of 12 repetitions in eight exercises (50% of one maximal repetition) and the CG remained sedentary. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure was recorded. Results: Resistance training increased muscle strength (21.10 ± 0.71 vs. 25.76 ± 0.80 kg [p<0.01] chest press; 9.93 ± 0.29 vs. 14.41 ± 0.45 kg [p<0.01] knee extension), as well as reduced systolic blood pressure (126.79 ± 1.29 vs. 124.32 ± 1.37 mmHg [p<0.05] daytime; 125.11 ± 1.28 vs. 122.50 ± 1.38 mmHg [p<0.05] 24-h period) in TG. In addition, resistance training increased the circulating levels of adiponectin (4.61 ± 0.24 vs. 5.32 ± 0.25 pg/mL [p<0.01]) and reduced the circulating levels of ICAM-1 (334.38 ± 10.89 vs. 293.05 ± 9.78 pg/mL [p<0.01]). Conclusion: Our results suggest that resistance training is an important tool to reduce blood pressure and improve muscle strength in hypertensive elderly. Besides that, resistance training increase circulating levels of adiponectin, and reduce the levels of plasma ICAM-1 in hypertensive elderly.