ECSS Paris 2023: OP-MH41
INTRODUCTION: Isometric wall squat training has been shown to effectively reduce blood pressure (1). Sunlight exposure promotes the release of endogenous nitric oxide (NO), leading to vasodilation and supporting vascular elasticity (2). Combining isometric exercise with sunlight exposure may be a feasible strategy to improve cardiovascular function. However, whether this combined approach exerts additive or synergistic effects remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of outdoor isometric wall squat training combined with sunlight exposure on blood pressure. We hypothesized that outdoor training would produce greater improvements in blood pressure and vascular function than indoor training alone. METHODS: Sixty healthy young adults (29 males, 31 females; mean age: 20.9 ± 1.9 years) were randomly assigned to an outdoor intervention group, an indoor intervention group, or a control group. Both intervention groups completed a 4-week isometric wall squat training program (3 sessions/week), consisting of four 2-min bouts at 95% peak heart rate (HR_peak) with 2-min rest intervals. The outdoor group trained outdoors with approximately 25% of body surface area exposed to sunlight (target UV dose of one-quarter of the minimal erythema dose [MED]) without sunscreen, whereas the indoor group trained indoors without sunlight exposure. The control group received no intervention. Actual daily UV exposure was 11.25 ± 1.83, 2.70 ± 2.47, and 2.95 ± 3.08 mJ/cm² for the outdoor, indoor, and control groups, respectively. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure (PP), heart rate (HR), and plasma NO concentration were measured before and after the intervention. RESULTS: A significant group × time interaction was observed for SBP (p < .01), PP (p < .05), and plasma NO concentration (p < .05). Following the 4-week intervention, SBP significantly decreased in both the outdoor (p < .01) and indoor groups (p < .05), with a greater reduction observed in the outdoor group. PP significantly decreased only in the outdoor group. Plasma NO concentration significantly increased in the outdoor group after the intervention. In addition, a significant main effect of time was observed for MAP, which decreased across all groups (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Four weeks of isometric wall squat training effectively reduced blood pressure, and outdoor training with UV exposure produced greater reductions in SBP and PP, along with increases in plasma NO, indicating a synergistic effect of sunlight and exercise on vascular function. These findings suggest that outdoor isometric exercise may be an accessible and low-cost strategy for improving cardiovascular regulation.
Read CV TSE-AN YUECSS Paris 2023: OP-MH41
INTRODUCTION: Older hypertensive individuals may experience frailty, decreased balance, and muscle weakness, which can lead to falls. Physical activity, in turn, contributes to reducing these symptoms, improving the quality of life of these individuals. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there is an improvement in balance with ten weeks of training in hypertensive individuals. METHODS: Randomized controlled clinical trial with adults and elderly people with hypertension, practicing multicomponent training (strength, balance, aerobic endurance and flexibility), twice a week. Participants were randomized into an Intervention Group (IG) and a Control Group (CG). The CG continued to participate in classes normally and the IG performed a physical exercise protocol with an emphasis on balance, however, they also continued to perform strength and aerobic endurance exercises. The training lasted ten weeks. Six to seven static and dynamic balance exercises were used, lasting 30 to 45 minutes. In the first three weeks, exercises were performed with two sets of 12 to 15 repetitions, progressing from the fourth week to three sets of 12 repetitions. In the last four weeks, the exercises were performed with four sets of 12 repetitions. At baseline and after ten weeks, anthropometric measurements (body mass, body mass index, and height), blood pressure assessment and assessment of physical fitness using the senior fitness test (Rikli and Jones, 1999) were performed. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Two-way analysis for repeated measures and the LSD post-hoc test were used to compare the groups and verify differences. With p significance less than 0.05 RESULTS: Twenty hypertensive individuals of both sexes participated in the study. The mean and Standard Deviation (SD) of the age of the IG (n=13) was 63.69 (6.18) years old, and the mean and SD of systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 135.0 (13.19) mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 80.18 (10.73) mmHg. The mean age and SD of the CG (n=07) was 62.57 (6.82) years old, SBP was 132.14 (13.58) mmHg, and DBP was 76.71 (9.63) mmHg. There was an increase in lower limb strength in the IG after training (p<0.001). An effect of time was also observed on the variables upper limb strength (p=0.014) and balance (p=0.001), with improvement for both groups. CONCLUSION: Ten weeks of multicomponent training promoted improvements in upper limb strength and balance in individuals with hypertension, regardless of whether it was complemented by balance exercises. However, balance training added to multicomponent training favors a greater increase in lower limb strength. References RIKLI RE, JONES CJ. Development and validation of functional fitness test for community-residing older adults. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. 77:129-161, 1999.
Read CV Jucileia BezerraECSS Paris 2023: OP-MH41
INTRODUCTION: Physical training is considered an essential component in hypertension (HTN) treatment. However, many individuals with HTN do not engage in traditional exercise. In this sense, yoga, a non-conventional modality combining breathing, postures, meditation, and relaxation, emerges as an attractive alternative, but its effects on mental and cognitive parameters in the context of HTN remains unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 16-week yoga program on mental health (Quality of Life, Health Perception, Sleep Quality, Depressive Symptoms and Stress) and Cognition in adults and elderly with HTN. METHODS: This study represents a preliminary analysis of a randomized controlled trial conducted with adults and elderly (40 years or older), of both sexes, diagnosed with HTN, who were randomized into two groups: Yoga Group (YG) and Control Group (CG, usual care). The YG participated in a 16-week yoga program involving breathing techniques, mobility exercises, physical postures, meditation and relaxation. During the first eight weeks (Phase 1), three supervised in-person sessions per week were conducted. In the last eight weeks (Phase 2), the yoga program was semi-supervised, consisting of three supervised in-person sessions per week and one unsupervised session delivered via video class. The video class was made available on a digital platform. Mental health outcomes (quality of life and health perception: EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level questionnaire; sleep quality: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, depressive symptoms: Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and stress: Perceived Stress Scale) and cognitive function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) were assessed at baseline, after eight weeks and after 16 weeks. Intra and intergroup comparisons were conducted using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) with Bonferroni post hoc tests and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), adjusted for baseline values. A significance level of 5% was adopted for all analyses. RESULTS: Eleven participants were included (56.91 (SD 10.83) years; 54.54% women; 76.24 (SD 16.50) kg; 163.37 (SD 7.64) cm; 10.00 (SD 8.19) years of hypertension diagnosis). Improvements in sleep quality score were observed in both groups from pre to eight weeks (YG-pre:10.60 (SD 1.15), post 8-weeks: 7.60 (SD 1.00) and post 16-weeks: 9.50 (SD 2.79); CG-pre: 9.50 (SD 1.38), post 8-weeks: 7.00 (SD 2.03) and post 16 weeks: 8.00 (SD 2.94), p<0.001). No significant main or interaction effects were observed for quality of life, health perception, depressive symptoms, stress and cognition (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sixteen weeks of Yoga and usual care in hypertensive adults and elderly can improve sleep quality, without altering quality of life, health perception, depressive symptoms, stress and cognition. Number of Clinical Trials register: NCT07125313. This study was funded by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e Inovação do Estado de Santa Catarina (FAPESC), under Call No. 21,2024.
Read CV Maria Eduarda SirydakisECSS Paris 2023: OP-MH41