Home exercise program: short term effects on physical aptitude and blood pressure in hypertensive individuals

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of a four-month-unsupervised-exercise program performed at home on the blood pressure (BP) and physical performance in hypertensive adults. METHODS: A target group with 26 men and 52 women, and a control group with 9 men and 7 women were observed, with ages ranging from 25 to 77 years old. The target group underwent a home exercise program, basically with aerobic activity (60-80% of the estimated maximum heart rate for the age, 30min of walking at least 3 times a week), in addition to the flexibility exercises. Guidelines on the control chart and variables that could influence the treatment were given at each assessment. Patients were followed-up for four months, with assessments every 2 months observing: BP at rest; body weight, waist-hip ratio (W/HR), body fat percentage (%F), sum of skinfold measurements (SM) and central-peripheral skinfold ratio (C/P); trunk flexibility (TF); heart rate and workload ratio during submaximal test in cycle ergometer (HR/W), represented by the regression curve inclination between both (a). RESULTS: The target group demonstrated significant alterations in weight (-3.7 kg), WHR (-0.03), SM (-12 mm), %F (-4.4%), TF (+2.3 cm), HR/W (-0.02) and BP (-6 and -9 mmHg for systolic and diastolic pressure respectively). The control group presented small weight alterations (+1.3 Kg) and %F (+1.7%). CONCLUSION: Unsupervised exercise home programs, even in short term, may present positive effects on the blood pressure and physical performance in hypertensive individuals.