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The training and detraining effect of high-intensity interval training on post-exercise hypotension in young overweight/obese women

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Abstract

Purpose

Studies evaluating the response in blood pressure (BP) following high-intensity interval training (HIIT) are scant even though there has been extensive work done on the BP response following acute and chronic low- to moderate-intensity aerobic and resistance exercise in both hypertensive and normotensive individuals. The present study sought to investigate the training and detraining effects of short-term HIIT on the post-exercise hypotension (PEH) response in overweight/obese young women.

Method

Twenty young untrained women volunteered for the study. Participants performed six HIIT sessions on a treadmill within 2 weeks (week 1: 10 × 1 min and week 2: 15 × 1 min intervals at 90–95 % HRmax, separated by 1 min active recovery at 70 % HRmax each session) and detrained for 2 weeks. Post-exercise BP was measured for 1 h following the first and last HIIT sessions.

Results

Participants were normotensive (SBP: 119.2 ± 5.60 mmHg; DBP: 78.8 ± 4.12 mmHg) and had a BMI greater than 25 kg m−2. The magnitude of the systolic hypotensive response was slightly greater after the six sessions HIIT compared to pre-training (5.04 and 4.28 mmHg, respectively), and both would be considered clinically significant (>3 mmHg decrease). After 2 weeks, detraining the PEH response was not clinically significant (1.08 mmHg decrease). The magnitude of the DBP response was only clinically significant following post- and detraining (4.26 and 3.87 mmHg, respectively).

Conclusion

The findings suggest that six HIIT sessions is sufficient to affect clinically significant PEH responses in young, overweight/obese women; however, the training effects are lost within 2 weeks of detraining.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

b.min−1 :

Beats per minute

BMI:

Body mass index

BP:

Blood pressure

cm:

Centimeter

DBP:

Diastolic blood pressure

ES:

Effect size

HIIT:

High-intensity interval training

HR:

Heart rate

HRmax :

Maximum heart rate

i.e.:

That is

kg:

Kilogram

Kg m−2 :

Kilogram per square meter

min:

Minute

ml kg−1 min−1 :

Milliliters per kilogram body weight per minute

mmHg:

Millimeters mercury

PAR-Q:

Physical activity readiness questioner

PEH:

Post-exercise hypotension

SBP:

Systolic blood pressure

SD:

Standard deviation

Sec:

Second

TPR:

Total peripheral resistance

VO2max :

Maximal aerobic capacity

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the volunteers who sacrificed their time out from their busy schedules, their interest, and commitment in this study. This research was supported by a grant from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Biggie Bonsu is currently at the Department of Sports and Exercise Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi Ghana.

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  1. Department of Sport Science, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa

    Biggie Bonsu & Elmarie Terblanche

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  1. Biggie Bonsu
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  2. Elmarie Terblanche
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Correspondence to Biggie Bonsu.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Communicated by Massimo Pagani.

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Bonsu, B., Terblanche, E. The training and detraining effect of high-intensity interval training on post-exercise hypotension in young overweight/obese women. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 77–84 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3224-7

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