Quadriceps short-term resistance exercise in subjects with resistant hypertension

Abstract

Introduction: Resistant arterial hypertension may lead to muscle disuse and reduced functional capacitydue to arterial and target-organs lesions. The main objective of this work is to evaluate the quadricepsstrength and fatigue tolerance after a program of resistance exercise in subjects with resistant primaryhypertension. Methods: Six patients under pharmacological treatment were submitted to a four-week resistanceexercise training program for the quadriceps (8-14 repetitions, 3 sets, 3 days per week). Strengthwas evaluated by isometric dynamometry, as the percentage change in maximum voluntary contractionover the four week program. Fatigue was analyzed by surface electromyography, as the change in bothroot mean square value and intercept of median frequency slope of vastus medialis and vastus lateralis.Results: Significant increase in the maximum voluntary contraction was observed (p = 0.04). Fatigue tolerancewas not improved as seen by root mean square as well as in the intercept of median frequency(p > 0.05). Additionally, no significant changes were observed in resting arterial blood pressure and heartrate throughout the training period. Conclusion: The prescribed protocol seemed to successfully increase localized muscle strength without negatively affecting the monitored cardiovascular variables in patientswith resistant hypertension under pharmacological treatment.