Post-exercise hypotension is greater after dynamic resistance than isometric exercise

Post-exercise hypotension (PEH) is a clinically relevant response to acute exercise and a predictor of blood pressure (BP) adaptations to chronic training. Although both dynamic and isometric resistance exercise (RE) are effective complementary strategies for BP management, their comparative effects on PEH remain unclear. This study (i) compared PEH following dynamic-and isometric-RE matched for exercise characteristics and total workload, and (ii) examined systemic hemodynamics and autonomic function during exercise, as cardiovascular perturbations may influence PEH magnitude. In a crossover-design, ten normotensive-young men completed: dynamic-RE and isometric-RE on bilateral-leg-press (2-min×4-sets, 30% of MVC, with equivalent workload), and non-exercise control. BP was measured at rest and for 90 minutes post-intervention. Systemic hemodynamics and baroreceptor sensitivity (BRS) were assessed during RE. Dynamic-RE elicited significant PEH (approximately -8mmHg) versus isometric-RE and control (p<0.05-0.01), with reductions in systolic-, diastolic-, and mean-BP evident from 40 to 90 min post-exercise. Isometric-RE did not induce PEH. Dynamic-RE produced greater cardiovascular/autonomic responses, including higher heart-rate, stroke-volume, cardiac-output alongside larger reductions in total-peripheral-resistance and BRS. In conclusion, when matched for exercise characteristics, dynamic but not isometric-RE induced a PEH effect. The PEH effect of dynamic-RE may, in part, be related to its larger cardiovascular/autonomic perturbations, potentially promoting greater postexercise vasodilation.