Effect of different types of physical exercise on blood pressure in overweight male subjects aged 50-70 in the city of Alicante

The objective of this study was to compare different types of physical exercise on blood pressure (BP) in overweight, medicated hypertensive subjects aged between 50 and 70 years. 30 male subjects (mean ± standard deviation; age: 60.06 ± 5.22 years; height: 1.72 ± 0.06 m; body weight: 81.16 ± 9.66 kg; body mass index: 27.58 ± 1.64 kg/m²) were evaluated using different training strategies and divided into three groups. The Concurrent Training (CT) group consisted of 12 subjects, performing combined strength (40-80% of 1RM) and endurance training (40-80% of VO2max). Nine subjects participated in handgrip isometric training (HT) group, performing isometric contractions using a dynamometer (4x2'/1' bilaterally). The control group (CG) consisted of nine subjects. Significant differences (p < .05) were found between the CT and HT groups after 8 weeks of intervention and in the acute effect of the sessions on systolic blood pressure (SBP). Furthermore, it was established that subjects with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 27.5 kg/m2 and a waist-hip ratio (WHR) greater than 1 obtained more changes in their BP compared to subjects with lower BMI and WHR. Our study indicated that the implementation of CT and HT can reduce BP in hypertensive subjects.