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Reduced central blood pressure in older adults following progressive resistance training

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 21, pages 96–98 (2007)Cite this article

The effect of a programme of resistance training on central blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness was studied in 17 men and women aged 65–78 years. Following 20 weeks of training, central systolic and diastolic BPs were significantly reduced by 6 and 3 mm Hg, respectively, with little change to systemic arterial stiffness. Overall, resistance training as a sole exercise intervention conferred clinically significant reductions in central BP.

Ageing is associated with a number of changes in the cardiovascular system including an increase in large artery stiffness,1 which gives rise to an increased brachial systolic blood pressure (SBP) and a widened pulse pressure, which may be the precursor to isolated systolic or essential hypertension.2 Regular aerobic exercise training is known to reduce large artery stiffness1, 3 and to result in small reductions in brachial BP,4 but less is known about the haemodynamic effects of resistance training in older adults.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    D R Taaffe, J E Sharman & J S Coombes

  2. School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia

    D A Galvão

  3. Department of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    J E Sharman

Authors
  1. D R Taaffe
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  2. D A Galvão
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  3. J E Sharman
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  4. J S Coombes
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Correspondence to D R Taaffe.

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Taaffe, D., Galvão, D., Sharman, J. et al. Reduced central blood pressure in older adults following progressive resistance training. J Hum Hypertens 21, 96–98 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1002115

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