Subacute effects of the number of Pilates exercise series on cardiovascular responses in hypertensive women

Abstract Aim: To evaluate the subacute effects of the number of Pilates exercise series (one and three) on the cardiovascular responses of medicated hypertensive women. Methods: Eight hypertensive and nine normotensive women underwent a Pilates session with low and high volume, and cardiovascular responses were measured. Aged sample of 50-65 years old underwent to anthropometrical measurements previously to the experimental procedures. The cardiovascular assessment was performed before and after every experimental session. The experimental procedures consisted of two familiarization sessions, load determination, and two experimental sessions (one or three series) for each group. Results: In the intragroup analysis, HR was found to be reduced in the normotensive group. In the hypertensive group, a reduction in the double product was observed after both Pilates sessions, and in the normotensive group only after the session with one series. The volume of exercises of the Pilates method did not interfere in the responses of systolic and diastolic BP after exercise. However, a more prominent area under the curve was seen in the systolic BP of hypertensive subjects who performed three series. Conclusion: The present study shows that performing one or three series of the Pilates exercise does not induce hypotension post-exercise and did not interfere in the cardiovascular responses of medicated hypertensive women.

摘要
研究目的：本研究旨在探讨普拉提（Pilates）训练组数（1组与3组）对服用降压药物的高血压女性心血管反应的亚急性效应。
研究方法：选取8名高血压女性与9名血压正常女性，分别完成低容量与高容量普拉提训练课程，并监测其心血管反应。所有受试者年龄为50~65岁，实验前需完成人体测量学指标检测。每次实验课程前后均需进行心血管功能评估。实验流程包括2次熟悉性训练、负荷量测定，以及每组受试者分别完成2次实验课程（1组或3组训练）。
研究结果：组内分析显示，血压正常组受试者的心率（HR）有所降低。高血压组受试者在两次普拉提训练后，双乘积（double product）均出现下降；而血压正常组仅在完成1组训练后双乘积出现下降。普拉提训练容量未对训练后收缩压与舒张压的反应产生显著影响。但完成3组训练的高血压受试者，其收缩压曲线下面积更为显著。
研究结论：本研究表明，完成1组或3组普拉提训练并不会在训练后引发低血压，且未对服用降压药物的高血压女性的心血管反应产生显著影响。