Effects of Swimming Training on Blood Pressure and Vascular Function in Adults >50 Years of Age

Abstract

Swimming is ideal for older adults because it includes minimum weight-bearing stress and decreased heat load. However, there is very little information available concerning the effects of regular swimming exercise on vascular risks. We determined if regular swimming exercise would decrease arterial blood pressure (BP) and improve vascular function. Forty-three otherwise healthy adults >50 years old (60 ؎ 2) with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension and not on any medication were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of swimming exercise or attention time controls. Before the intervention period there were no significant differences in any of the variables between groups. Body mass, adiposity, and plasma concentrations of glucose and cholesterol did not change in either group throughout the intervention period. Casual systolic BP decreased significantly from 131 ؎ 3 to 122 ؎ 4 mm Hg in the swimming training group. Significant decreases in systolic BP were also observed in ambulatory (daytime) and central (carotid) BP measurements. Swimming exercise produced a 21% increase in carotid artery compliance (p <0.05). Flow-mediated dilation and cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity improved after the swim training program (p <0.05). There were no significant changes in any measurements in the control group that performed gentle relaxation exercises. Regular exercise is universally the first-line approach to prevent and treat age-related increases in blood pressure (BP).1 Most studies to date, however, have employed walking, jogging, or cycling as activity modes.2 Currently, there is very little information available concerning the BP-lowering effects of regular swimming exercise. Thus far swimming exercise has been widely promoted and prescribed without the underpinning of firm scientific support from clinical studies.3 This is unfortunate because swimming is an ideal form of physical activity for older adults, particularly those with orthopedic problems, bronchospasm, heat disorders, and/or obesity, because it includes minimum weight-bearing stress, a humid environment, and decreased heat load.3 In addition, no information is available on whether regular swimming exercise modulates key measurements of vascular function (arterial stiffness and endothelium-dependent vasodilation) and whether they are related to the hypotensive effects of swimming exercise. The primary aim of the present study was to determine the effect of swimming exercise intervention on arterial BP and key measurements of vascular functions in adults Ͼ50 years of age with increased BP. To evaluate the effects on BP as comprehensively as possible, measurements of ambulatory, central, and casual BP were performed. MethodsMen and women 50 to 80 years of age were recruited from Austin, Texas and the surrounding communities. Every subject had a systolic BP at rest from 140 to 159 mm Hg (stage 1 systolic hypertension) or 120 to 139 mm Hg (prehypertension) with a diastolic BP of Ͻ99 mm Hg.1 No subjects had been smoking or taking antihypertensive medications. Subject...

Effects of Shallow Water Aerobic Exercise Training on Arterial Stiffness and Pulse Wave Analysis in Older Individuals

“…Further, aquatic-based exercise training (swimming) has been shown to improve arterial compliance and blood pressure (Nualnim et al, 2012).…”

Efeitos de exercícios aeróbicos aquáticos sobre a pressão arterial em adultos hipertensos: revisão sistemática

“…Entre estes estudos, cinco apresentaram abordagem aguda [24][25][26]28, 37 e 10 apresentaram abordagem crônica 23,27,29,[30][31][32][33][34][35][36] . Destes estudos, 20,0% apresentaram randomização adequada; em nenhum estudo foi relatada ocultação da alocação; assim como nenhum realizou cegamento de pacientes e pesquisadores; 20% tinham cegamento dos avaliadores dos desfechos; 80% descreveram perdas no acompanhamento e exclusões, e 33,3% dos estudos utilizaram o princípio de intenção de tratar para análises estatísticas.…”

“…A hidroginástica foi a intervenção mais recorrente, aparecendo em 10 estudos [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] . A natação apareceu em cinco estudos 27,[33][34][35][36] , sendo que um deles realizou treinamento combinado com a hidroginástica 27 e apenas um estudo utilizou corrida aquática como forma de exercício 37 .…”

Exercise and Dietary Influences on Arterial Stiffness in Cardiometabolic Disease

“…[35][36][37][38][39][40][41] Because BP lowering is common in this setting, 29 it is difficult to distinguish whether arterial destiffening is an incipient contributor to this process or a favorable consequence of a shift in the operating point of the pressure-stiffness curve ( Figure 1). 12,30 Studies in isolated systolic hypertension provide some insights.…”