Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of age on blood pressure recovery after maximal effort ergometer exercise in non-athletic adult males

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigated whether age influences blood pressure recovery after maximal exercise in adult males. Forty healthy, non-athletic adult males (20 young, aged 22 ± 3.46 years and 20 older, aged 48 ± 6.91 years) participated in the study. Subjects performed a maximal-effort ergometer exercise test. Peak oxygen uptake (VO2max) was measured during the exercise protocol; heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were measured before exercise, during exercise (at 2-min intervals), and at the first minute of post-exercise recovery and subsequently at 2-min intervals until the recovery of BP. Results indicated that young adults had lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) recovery ratio (P < 0.05), lower SBP recovery time (P < 0.001), higher SBP% decline in 1, and 3 min (P < 0.001), and higher DBP% decline in 1, and 3 min (P < 0.05, <0.001) than the older adults, thus indicating faster BP recovery in young than older adults. A bivariate correlation test, revealed significant associations (P < 0.001, <0.01) between age and BP recovery parameters: percentage SBP decline in 1 and 3 min (27 and 39%), percentage DBP decline in 1 and 3 min (14 and 26%), third minute SBP ratio (22%), and SBP recovery time (72%). After controlling for factors affecting BP recovery such as resting SBP, percentage HR decline, VO2max and delta SBP, the observed correlations reduced in SBP recovery time (29%; P < 0.002) but disappeared (P > 0.01) in the other BP recovery parameters. These data indicate the need to take into account, factors affecting BP recovery when interpreting the effect of age on BP responses after exercise in future investigations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acanfora D, De Caprio L, Cuomo S, Papa M, Ferrara N, Leosco D et al (1988) Diagnostic value of the ratio of recovery systolic blood pressure to peak exercise systolic blood pressure for the detection of coronary artery disease. Circulation 77:1306–1310

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Amon KW, Richard KL, Crawford MH (1984) Usefulness of the post exercise response of systolic blood pressure in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Circulation 70:951–956

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Borg GA (1982) Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc 14:377–381

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crique MH, Haskell WL, Heiss G, Tyroler HA, Green P, Rubenstein CJ (1983) Predictors of systolic blood pressure response to treadmill exercise: the lipid research clinics program prevalence study. Circulation 68:225–233

    Google Scholar 

  • Daida H, Allison TG, Squires RW, Miller TD, Gau GT (1996) Peak exercise blood pressure stratified by age and gender in apparently healthy subjects. Mayo Clin Proc 71(5):445–452

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davy KP, DeSouza CA, Jones PP, Seals DR (1998) Elevated heart rate variability in physically active young and older adult women. Clin Sci 94:579–584

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dimkpa U, Ibhazehiebo K (2009) Assessment of the influence of age on the rate of heart rate decline after maximal exercise in non-athletic adult males. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 29(1):68–73

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dimkpa U, Ugwu AC, Oshi DC (2008) Assessment of sex differences in systolic blood pressure responses to exercise in healthy, non-athletic young adults. JEPonline 11(2):18–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellestad M (1989) Reliability of blood pressure recordings. Am J Cardiol 63:983–985

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fleg JL, Morell CH, Bos AG, Brant LJ (2005) Accelerated longitudinal decline of aerobic capacity in healthy older adults. Circulation 112:674–682

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher GF, Balady GJ, Amsterdam AE, Chaitman B, Robert E, Jerome F et al (2001) Exercise standards for testing and training. A statement for health care professionals from the American heart association. Circulation 104:1694–1740

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goedecke JH, Gibson AS, Grobler L, Collins M, Noakes TD, Lambert EV (2000) Determinants of the variability in respiratory exchange ratio at rest and during exercise in trained athletes. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 279:EI325–EI334

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldsmith RL, Bigger JT, Bloomsfield DM, Steinman RC (1997) Physical fitness as a determinat of vagal modulation. Med Sci Sports Exerc 29(6):812–817

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hashimoto M, Okamoto M, Yamagata T, Yamane T, Watanabe M, Tsuchioka Y et al (1993) Abnormal systolic blood pressure during exercise recovery in patients with angina pectoris. J Am Coll Cardiol 22:659–664

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones PP, Christou DD, Jordan J, Seals DR (2003) Baroreflex buffering is reduced with age in healthy men. Circulation 107:1770–1774

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kurl S, Laukkanen JA, Rauramaa R, Lakka TA, Sivenius J, Salonen JJ (2001) Systolic blood pressure response to exercise stress test and risk of stroke. Stroke 32:2036–2041

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lakatta EG (2000) Cardiovascular aging in health. Clin Geriatr Med 16(3):419–444

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lakatta EG (2002) Age-associated cardiovascular changes in health: Impact on cardiovascular disease in older persons. Heart Fail Rev 7(1):29–49

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laukkanen JA, Kurl S, Salonen R, Lakka TA, Rauramaa R, Salonen JT (2004) Systolic blood pressure during recovery from exercise and the risk of acute myocardial infarction in middle aged men. Hypertension 44:820–825

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lenard S, Studinger P, Mersich B, Kocsis L, Kollai M (2004) Maturation of cardiovagal autonomic function from childhood to adult age. Circulation 110:2307–2312

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lippincott Williams, & Wilkins (2005) American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for exercise testing and prescription; 7th edn, Philadelphia

  • MacDonald JR (2002) Potential causes, mechanisms and implications of post exercise hypotension. J Hum Hypertens 16:225–236

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McHam SA, Marwick TH, Pashkow FJ, Lauer MS (1999) Delayed systolic blood pressure recovery after graded exercise: an independent correlate of angiographic coronary disease. J Am Coll Cardiol 34:754–759

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miyahara T, Yokota M, Iwase M, Watanabe M, Matsunami T, Koide M et al (1990) Mechanism of abnormal post exercise systolic blood pressure response and its diagnostic value in patients with coronary artery disease. Am Heart J 120:40–49

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Norris AH, Shock NW, Yiengst MJ (1953) Age changes in heart rate and blood pressure response to tilting and standardized exercise. Circulation 8:521–526

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oxeham H, Sharpe N (2003) Cardiovascular aging and heart failure. Eur J Heart Fail 5(4):427–434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raven PB, Potts JT, Shi X (1997) Baroreflex regulation of blood pressure during dynamic exercise in humans. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 25:365–389

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rowell LB (1993) Human cardiovascular control. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 28–33 374–390

    Google Scholar 

  • Seals D, Esler M (2000) Human ageing and the sympathoadrenal system. J Physiol 528(3):407–417

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh JP, Larson MG, Manolio TA, O’Donnell CJ, Lauer M, Evans JC et al (1999) Blood pressure response during treadmill testing as a risk factor for a new-onset hypertension. The Framingham heart study. Circulation 99:1831–1836

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stalheim-Smith A, Fitch GK (1993) Ageing and health issues. In: Understanding human anatomy and physiology. West Publishing Company, Minneapolis, 681pp

  • Tanaka H, Monahan KD, Seals DR (2001) Age-predicted maximum heart rate revisited. J Am Coll Cardiol 37(1):153–156

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor AJ, Beller GA (1998) Post-exercise systolic blood pressure response; clinical application to the assessment of ischemic heart disease. Am Acad Fam Physicians 58(5):1–9

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakiliki. PMB 53, Abakiliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

    Uchechukwu Dimkpa

  2. Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

    A. C. Ugwu

Authors
  1. Uchechukwu Dimkpa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. C. Ugwu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Uchechukwu Dimkpa.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dimkpa, U., Ugwu, A.C. Influence of age on blood pressure recovery after maximal effort ergometer exercise in non-athletic adult males. Eur J Appl Physiol 106, 791–797 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-1081-y

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-1081-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation