Acute effect of resistance exercise using the German Volume Training Method on blood pressure of prehypertensive subjects

BACKGROUND: The exponential growth of people diagnosed with hypertension have encouraged the global scientific community to focus on researching new therapeutic strategies, including resistance training. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the acute effects of resistance training using the German Volume Training Method on the blood pressure of prehypertensive subjects. METHODS: A total of 20 subjects were divided into a control group (CG, N.=10; age: 25.2 +/- 5.2 years; Body Mass Index: 24.3 +/- 3.1 kg/m(2)) and German Volume Training Method group (GVTMG, N.=10; age: 26.5 +/- 4.6 years; Body Mass Index: 25.6 +/- 2.9 kg/m(2)). Before and after each session (baseline, post, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 minutes), blood pressure was evaluated. RESULTS: Significant intragroup differences can be observed for GVTMG in diastolic blood pressure (40 minutes post-session: 72.9 +/- 8.4 vs. 66.2 +/- 10.3 mmHg; P=0.046; Delta=-6.7 mmHg). Additionally, we observed changes in systolic blood pressure (40 minutes post-session: 130.7 +/- 4.3 vs. 124.9 +/- 8.T mmHg Delta=-5.8 mmHg; d=-0.9) and diastolic blood pressure (20 minutes post-session: 72.9 +/- 8.4 vs. 67.11,4.7 mmHg; Delta=-5.8 mmHg; d=-0.9). CONCLUSIONS: German Volume Training Method promoted positive changes in blood pressure of the present study sample.