Interference of intensity of aquatic activity levels in blood pressure in adult and old women

Abstract

AIMS: To compare the effects of aerobic training programs and resistance to aquatic moderate and vigorous activity in blood pressure levels in adult and elderly women, normotensive or hypertensive controlled without medication. METHODS: Sample was intentional, with Group 1 constituted of 9 women, mean age 54.56±7.04 years, who underwent moderate aquatic activity (60-70% of maximum heart rate) and Group 2 constituted of 11 women with mean age 54.91±7.70 years, who performed vigorous aquatic activity (70-80% of maximum heart rate). The two groups were analyzed for blood pressure over a period of 2 ½ months of treatment, a total of 20 attendances for each group. The sessions occurred with a frequency of twice a week, lasting 50 minutes each class. Exercise intensity was set as the maximum heart rate of each individual. Analysis was made by inferential statistics using Student t test for independent and paired samples, with significance lower than 5% RESULTS: Group 1 had a mean difference of intergroup blood pressure, between the beginning and end of the study, of -5.56 mmHg, whereas Group 2 showed a difference of +6.91 (p less than 0.001). In relation to diastolic blood pressure, the average intergroup difference of group 1 was -3.50 and for group was 2 +3.18 (p=0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate water activity was more efficient than vigorous water activity for reduction of blood pressure in adults and elderly women.