Low-Intensity Resistance Exercise Combined With Blood Flow Restriction is More Conducive to Regulate Blood Pressure and Autonomic Nervous System in Hypertension Patients—Compared With High-Intensity and Low-Intensity Resistance Exercise

Abstract

Background: The effect of resistance exercise on the autonomic nervous system of patients with hypertension has not been identified.Objective: To explore a suitable resistance training method for hypertension patients to regulate blood pressure (BP) and autonomic nervous system function.Method: Forty-five hypertension patients aged between 55 and 70 years were randomly equally divided into three groups: the high-intensity resistance exercise (HE) group, the low-intensity resistance exercise combined with blood flow restriction (LE-BFR) group, and the low-intensity resistance exercise (LE) group. All patients performed quadriceps femoris resistance exercise. The exercise intensity of HE, LE-BFR and LE group was 65, 30 and 30% of one repetition maximum (1RM), respectively. The LE-BFR group used pressure cuffs to provide 130% of systolic pressure to the patient’s thighs during resistance exercise. The training program was 20 times/min/set with a 1-min break after each set, and was conducted five sets/day and 3 days/week, lasting for 12 weeks. The heart rate (HR), BP, root-mean-square of difference-value of adjacent RR intervals (RMSSD), low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) were evaluated before and after the first training and the last training.Result: Significant differences in HR were observed in both recovery states after the first and last training (p < 0.01). After 12 weeks of training, the recovery speed of HR in the LE-BFR group increased significantly (p < 0.01). The systolic blood pressures in the HE and LE-BFR group were significantly reduced (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01), and the differences among groups were significant (p < 0.01). In the last recovery state, the RMSSD of the LE group was significantly lower than that in the first recovery state (p < 0.01). The LF/HF ratios of the HE and LE groups in the resting and recovery states were increased significantly (all p < 0.01). LF/HF ratios in the LE-BFR group in the resting and recovery state were decreased significantly (both p < 0.01).Conclusion: Compared to HE and LE, LE-BFR could effectively decrease systolic pressure and regulate the autonomic nervous system function in hypertension patients.

Salivary proteomic profile of response to different resistance training protocols: A case report

“…The results of this work shows the need for further studies, with combinations of methods, such as western blot, for the identification and confirmation of proteins seen here in salivary proteomics and with a high number of participants, as well as it would be interesting to verify the long‐term protein profile of BFR protocol, as well as its comparison in hypertensive individuals, since the literature has shown benefits of BFR in these individuals, 49 and comparison to HI protocol in trained individuals and those with the aforementioned diseases, to see the potential benefits of practicing this protocol.…”

Effects of blood flow restriction training on muscle fitness and cardiovascular risk of obese college students

“…While, by the findings of Junior et al (2019) , our results showed that the time domain indicators of HRV, SDNN and RMSSD, were significantly elevated in BFRT group, and the reason for this discrepancy could be attributed to the different forms and amount of exercise, and the subject variance. LF closely represents sympathetic regulation, and HF is an indicator of vagal regulation ( Zhao et al, 2022 ). In the present study, HF and LF were also found to be significantly elevated in BFRT group, with enhanced sympathetic and parasympathetic excitability, possessing improved regulation relative to resistance training alone.…”

Tai Chi training as a primary care plan for the prevention and management of hypertension: an opinion and positioning article

“…Long-term cardiorespiratory endurance training is characterized by low intensity, long duration, and high rhythm, which may be effective in controlling hypertension [ 14 ]. Studies have shown that resistance training lowers blood pressure as much or more than aerobic training [ 15 , 16 ]. However, resistance training involves more forceful movements and patients may experience reactions such as dizziness, nausea and stomach upset, so a pre-assessment of the participant’s physical condition is required [ 17 ].…”