The effects of swimming training on arterial function, muscular strength, and cardiorespiratory capacity in postmenopausal women with stage 2 hypertension

Abstract

Objective: Aging is associated with progressive decreases in arterial health as well as muscular strength and cardiorespiratory capacity. It is crucial to prevent or reduce the negative effects of aging on vasculature, muscular, and cardiorespiratory function by implementing appropriate lifestyle interventions, such as exercise training. We examined the effects of a swimming (SWM) regimen on arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity [PWV]), blood pressure (BP), wave reflection (augmentation index [AIx]), muscle strength, and aerobic capacity in sedentary, postmenopausal women with stage 2 hypertension. Methods: One hundred participants (∼74 years of age) were recruited from multiple general practice centers. Using a parallel experimental design, participants were randomly assigned to either SWM (n = 52) or nonexercising control group (n = 48) for 20 weeks. Participants in the SWM group trained 3 to 4 days/week. Participants’ carotid to radial PWV, BP, AIx, muscular strength, and cardiorespiratory capacity were measured at baseline and after 20 weeks of their assigned intervention. Results: There was a significant group × time interaction (P < 0.05) for carotid to radial PWV (Δ−1.2 m/s), AIx (Δ−4%), and systolic (Δ−9 mm Hg) and diastolic BP (Δ − 9 mm Hg), which significantly decreased (P < 0.05); and strength (Δ3 kg) and cardiorespiratory capacity (Δ4 mL/kg/min), which significantly increased (P < 0.05) following SWM compared to no changes in control. Conclusions: SWM led to reductions in arterial stiffness, wave reflection, and BP while increasing strength and aerobic capacity in postmenopausal women with stage 2 hypertension. SWM may be an effective intervention in the prevention and treatment of age-related vascular complications and declines in muscle strength and cardiorespiratory capacity.

Habitual Combined Exercise Protects against Age-Associated Decline in Vascular Function and Lipid Profiles in Elderly Postmenopausal Women

“…Different modes of aerobic exercise training alone for 8-12 weeks (swimming, stair climbing, and all-extremity ergometry) have been shown to significantly decrease arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women and older adults [24][25][26], whereas high-intensity interval training and resistance training for 8-12 weeks showed no differences in arterial stiffness in similar populations [26,27]. Furthermore, CRAE training for 12 weeks has been shown to reduce arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women [13,28].…”

Physical activity is associated with lower arterial stiffness in normal‐weight postmenopausal women

“…Many older women have a difficulty in adhering to aerobic training programs and often quit exercising in groups due to perceived or actual barriers, such as musculoskeletal discomfort and increased levels of heat load and unpleasant feeling 15 . Alternative aerobic training modalities, such as swimming, have also been recently studied with promising results reductions in arterial stiffness, blood pressure, strength, and aerobic capacity in postmenopausal women 16 . However, data are still limited on cardiovascular adaptations after physical activity in women of post‐reproductive status, while there are gaps in the literature regarding other factors contributing to inter‐individual variability in these adaptations.…”

“…However, data are still limited on cardiovascular adaptations after physical activity in women of post‐reproductive status, while there are gaps in the literature regarding other factors contributing to inter‐individual variability in these adaptations. Furthermore, more realistic exercise approaches for these women in daily routine, such as walking and other mild types of physical activity, need to be further studied 4,16 …”

Effects of Aerobic Training Progression on Blood Pressure in Individuals With Hypertension: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression

“…Thus, 24 studies were included in the nal analysis, among which 12 studies were classi ed as progressive aerobic training [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] and 12 studies were classi ed as nonprogressive aerobic training [35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46] . In addition, 4 studies were analyzed twice for presenting two groups of aerobic training 28,31,35 or for performing analyses at two different moments 27 (Fig.…”

“…Regarding aerobic training with progression, 15 exercise groups [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] were analyzed, with the majority (80%) of the studies applying continuous training protocols. The total duration of interventions ranged from 8 to 37 weeks and the duration of sessions from 20 to 60 minutes, with two studies 28,32 that progressed only in duration not showing the number of progressions made.…”