Exercise training program based on minimum weekly frequencies: effects on blood pressure and physical fitness in elderly hypertensive patients

• Autor(a) principal: Moraes,Wilson M. De
• Data de Publicação: 2012
• Outros Autores: Souza,Pamella R. M., Pinheiro,Mônica H. N. P., Irigoyen,Maria C., Medeiros,Alessandra, Koike,Marcia K.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1413-35552012000200006
• topic: hypertension; exercise; physical fitness; rehabilitation; elderly

BACKGROUND: Exercise training (ET) can reduce blood pressure (BP) and prevent functional disability. However, the effects of low volumes of training have been poorly studied, especially in elderly hypertensive patients. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of a multi-component ET program (aerobic training, strength, flexibility, and balance) on BP, physical fitness, and functional ability of elderly hypertensive patients. METHODS: Thirty-six elderly hypertensive patients with optimal clinical treatment underwent a multi-component ET program: two 60-minute sessions a week for 12 weeks at a Basic Health Unit. RESULTS: Compared to pre-training values, systolic and diastolic BP were reduced by 3.6% and 1.2%, respectively (p<0.001), body mass index was reduced by 1.1% (p<0.001), and peripheral blood glucose was reduced by 2.5% (p=0.002). There were improvements in all physical fitness domains: muscle strength (chair-stand test and elbow flexor test; p<0.001), static balance test (unipedal stance test; p<0.029), aerobic capacity (stationary gait test; p<0.001), except for flexibility (sit and reach test). Moreover, there was a reduction in the time required to perform two functional ability tests: "put on sock" and "sit down, stand up, and move around the house" (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Lower volumes of ET improved BP, metabolic parameters, and physical fitness and reflected in the functional ability of elderly hypertensive patients. Trial Registration RBR-2xgjh3.