Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Variability Responses to High-Intensity Interval Training in Untrained Postmenopausal Women

• Published in: Research quarterly for exercise and sport Vol. 93; no. 4; pp. 749 - 757
• Main Authors: de Freitas, Victor Hugo, Mariano, Igor Moraes, Amaral, Ana Luiza, Rodrigues, Mateus Lima, Carrijo, Victor Hugo Vilarinho, Nakamura, Fábio Yuzo, Puga, Guilherme Morais
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington Routledge 02.10.2022; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: aerobic exercise; autonomic function; Autonomic nervous system; Blood pressure; double product; Females; Heart rate; Interval training; menopause; Post-menopause
• ISSN: 0270-1367; 2168-3824
• DOI: 10.1080/02701367.2021.1917756

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the blood pressure (BP) and heart rate variability (HRV) responses in untrained postmenopausal women submitted to acute single sessions of high-intensity interval training (HIT). Method: Sixteen postmenopausal women (59.9 ± 5.6 years, 26.7 ± 3.0 kg/m 2 ) participated in a random order of two acute sessions in a balanced crossover format: control without exercise in sitting position or HIT session. BP and heart rate (HR) were recorded before and during 60 min following the sessions. Results: Diastolic (DBP), mean BP (MBP), and double product (DPO) showed interaction (p < .01). DBP, MBP, and DPO increased (p < .01) after HIT but not after the control session. The area under the curve (AUC) of DBP (p = .02) and DPO (p < .01) were different between conditions. Time and frequency indices of HRV presented interaction (p < .05) which impaired these indices post-HIT, but not post-control. The AUC of time and frequency HRV indices were different between conditions. Conclusions: A single session of HIT may increase BP and cardiac stress and cause perturbation of the autonomic function in untrained postmenopausal women.