Postexercise Hypotension in an Endurance-Trained Population of Men and Women Following High-Intensity Interval and Steady-State Cycling

• Published in: American journal of hypertension Vol. 23; no. 4; pp. 358 - 367
• Main Authors: Rossow, Lindy, Yan, Huimin, Fahs, Christopher A., Ranadive, Sushant M., Agiovlasitis, Stamatis, Wilund, Kenneth R., Baynard, Tracy, Fernhall, Bo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Oxford University Press 01-04-2010; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adult; Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension; Bicycling; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood Flow Velocity; blood pressure; Cardiac Output; Cardiology. Vascular system; Exercise - physiology; Exercise Test; Exercise Therapy; Female; Heart Ventricles - diagnostic imaging; high-intensity interval exercise; Hormones. Endocrine system; Humans; hypertension; Hypertension - therapy; Hypotension - etiology; Hypotension - physiopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Physical Endurance - physiology; postexercise hypotension; Sex Factors; Ultrasonography; Vascular Resistance; Young Adult; blood pressure; postexercise hypotension; high-intensity interval exercise; hypertension; Physical exercise; Human; Hypertension; Cardiovascular disease; Arterial pressure; Endurance; Blood pressure
• ISSN: 0895-7061; 1941-7225; 1879-1905
• DOI: 10.1038/ajh.2009.269

Background The acute effect of high-intensity interval exercise (HI) on blood pressure (BP) is unknown although this type of exercise has similar or greater cardiovascular benefits compared to steady-state aerobic exercise (SS). This study examined postexercise hypotension (PEH) and potential mechanisms of this response in endurance-trained subjects following acute SS and HI. Sex differences were also evaluated. Methods A total of 25 endurance-trained men (n = 15) and women (n = 10) performed a bout of HI and a bout of SS cycling in randomized order on separate days. Before exercise, 30min postexercise, and 60min postexercise, we measured brachial and aortic BP. Cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), end diastolic volume (EDV), end systolic volume (ESV), and left ventricular wall-velocities were measured using ultrasonography with tissue Doppler capabilities. Ejection fraction and fractional shortening (FS), total peripheral resistance (TPR), and calf vascular resistance were calculated from the above variables and measures of leg blood flow. Results BP, ejection fraction, and FS decreased by a similar magnitude following both bouts but changes in CO, heart rate (HR), TPR, and calf vascular resistance were greater in magnitude following HI than following SS. Men and women responded similarly to HI. Although men and women exhibited a similar PEH following SS, they showed differential changes in SV, EDV, and TPR. Conclusions HI acutely reduces BP similarly to SS. The mechanistic response to HI appears to differ from that of SS, and endurance-trained men and women may exhibit differential mechanisms for PEH following SS but not HI.