Impact of Low-Intensity Occlusive Cardiorespiratory Training on Office Blood Pressure and Physical Fitness in Adults with Hypertension

Abstract Background Hypertension is the leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, underscoring the need for non-pharmacological strategies such as exercise to optimize blood pressure control. Although moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) are supported by substantial evidence, blood flow restriction (BFR) combined with low-intensity cardiorespiratory training (LICT) has emerged as a promising alternative because it imposes a lower workload. Objective To compare the effects of three cardiorespiratory training modalities—high-intensity interval training (HIIT), moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), and low-intensity continuous training with blood flow restriction (LICT-BFR)—with those of a control group on office blood pressure and physical fitness in patients with hypertension. Methods This randomized controlled clinical study was conducted at the Cardiometabolic Diseases Unit of Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos San Martín in La Plata, Argentina. Sixty participants were assessed (mean age, 60 ± 6 years). After eight participants were excluded for clinical reasons, 52 participants remained: a control group (n = 15) and three exercise groups—HIIT (n = 10), MICT (n = 13), and LICT-BFR (n = 14). The intervention comprised 36 sessions, three times per week for 12 weeks. Results Loss to follow-up was 26.9%, and 38 participants completed the study. Compared with the control group, the exercise groups combined showed significant improvements in physical fitness and office blood pressure (p < 0.05), with no changes in body weight or waist circumference. All three protocols improved physical fitness; however, only LICT-BFR produced a statistically significant reduction in office diastolic blood pressure (DBP; p = 0.044). Conclusion Cardiorespiratory training is important for improving functional capacity and hemodynamic control in people with hypertension. LICT-BFR provided functional benefits comparable to those of traditional aerobic training and was associated with a statistically significant reduction in office DBP.