EFFECTS OF CONCURRENT TRAINING ON MORPHOFUNCTIONAL PARAMETERS AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN HYPERTENSIVE WOMEN

Abstract

Aerobic and resistance exercise have been prescript to prevention and non pharmacological treatment of hypertension. However, there is a lack of studies investigating the effects of concurrent training in hypertensive women. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of concurrent training program on rest blood pressure, biochemical variables (blood glucose and total cholesterol) , anthropometric (body mass index and waist circumference) and functional fitness in hypertensive women. Eighteen hypertensive postmenopausal and untrained women (59±12 years old) started in the intervention, but only ten subjects finished. The voluntaries were enrolled in concurrent training, 60 min/day, 3 times a week, during 6 months. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose, total cholesterol, body mass index, waist circumference and functional fitness (AAPHERD) were measured pre and post experimental period. Data were analyzed using the Student’s t test with significance level set at 5% (P?0.05) and Cohen's Effect Size (ES). The results showed significant improvement in systolic and diastolic blood pressure at rest. The other variables did not show significantly changes, but the ES was medium and large for several variables (body mass index, blood glucose, total cholesterol, agility, coordination, aerobic fitness, strength endurance and general functional fitness index). In conclusion, this study confirms that 6 month of concurrent training program improved systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive women. In addition, the protocol suggests an improvement in anthropometric, biochemical and functional variables related to health.