Exercise training is effective for arterial stiffness and blood pressure rehabilitation in hypertensive adults

There is limited information regarding the arterial stiffness decrease in subjects with hypertension and risk factors to vascular-metabolic (i.e., of blood vessels) where the exercise induces a therapeutic and preventive role. This study aimed 1) to test the effects of 6 weeks of concurrent exercise including high-intensity interval plus resistance training (CT (HIIT+RT) ) on the arterial stiffness condition of individuals with different blood pressure controls, and 2) to compare the magnitude of exercise adaptations among different blood pressures and vascular characteristics. An experimental clinical randomized study was conducted in six categories (three controls and three experimental groups) of adults who were divided into six groups: control hypertensive (CG-HTN, n =10), control elevated blood pressure (CG -ELE, n =10), control normotensive (CG-NT, n =10), experimental hypertensive (ExG-HTN, n =10), elevated blood pressure (ExG-ELE, n =10), or normotensive (ExG-NT, n =10). The participants underwent 6 weeks of concurrent training with 5 min of high-intensity interval plus 5 min of resistance training (CT (HIIT+RT) ), where systolic pulse wave velocity of the brachial artery (PWV (b a) ) (primary outcome) and additional secondary blood pressure, body composition, and vascular outcomes were measured before and after 6 weeks of intervention. After 6 weeks of CT HIIT+RT , significant reductions in Delta PWV (b a) were reported in ExG-HTN vs. ExG-NT ( diff. 0.86 m/s (-1) ) and between ExG-ELE and ExG-NT ( diff. 0.76 m/s (-1) ). In conclusion, 6 weeks of CT (HIIT+RT) reduced arterial stiffness in adults with different blood pressure controls, but with a superior magnitude in HTN patients. Additional benefits include remission of high blood pressure in patients with hypertension.