Acute high-intensity interval exercise versus moderate-intensity continuous exercise in heated water-based on hemodynamic, cardiac autonomic, and vascular responses in older individuals with hypertension

ABSTRACT

Objectives

This crossover study design aimed to assess hemodynamic, cardiac autonomic, and vascular responses to high-intensity interval (HIIE) vs moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) in older individuals with hypertension.

Methods

Twenty (67 ± 7 y) older individuals with hypertension were randomly assigned to perform HIIE, MICE, or control (CON) sessions in the heated swimming pool (30–32°C). Blood pressure (BP), arterial stiffness, endothelial reactivity, and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured pre, post, and 45 min (recovery) after each intervention followed by 24-h ambulatory BP and HRV.

Results

One single aerobic exercise session was not effective to provoke post-exercise hypotension and vascular improvements. HIIE was superior to MICE and CON to increasing parasympathetic modulation at post and recovery. Exercise sessions showed to disturb the autonomic system at nighttime compared to CON.

Conclusions

These results may have important implications in water-based therapy and the elderly with hypertension

KEYWORDS:

• Aerobic exercise
• blood pressure
• heart rate variability
• post-exercise hypotension
• older adults

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo [FAPESP #2017/25648-4], Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico [CNPq #402468/2016-3], and Cardios Sistemas Comercial e Industrial Ltda. BF, VTA, and RMA were supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior [CAPES – Finance Code 001]. IRM and EGC were supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo [FAPESP #2018/09695-5] and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico [CNPq #303399/2018-0 and CNPq # 310572/2021-5], respectively.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data Availability

The data used, which support the findings of the present study, are available through the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Authors’ contributions

IRM carried out the study, performed data collection and statistical analysis, and drafted the manuscript. BF and VTA contributed to data collection and helped to supervise the study. RMA contributed to data analysis, interpretation of the results, and drafted the manuscript. CA, GVG, and VAC contributed to interpretation of the results and critically reviewed the manuscript. EGC was responsible for conception and design of the study, supervised the data collections and statistical analysis, contributed to interpretation of the results, and drafted and critically reviewed the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript and agree with the order of presentation of the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.