Resumen de Acute Effect of a Single Session of Pilates on Blood Pressure and Cardiac Autonomic Control in Middle-Aged Adults With Hypertension
Jeferson Rocha, Felipe Amorim Da Cunha, Ricardo Cordeiro, Walace David Monteiro, Linda S. Pescatello, Paulo de Tarso Veras Farinatti
We investigated the blood pressure (BP) and heart rate variability (HRV) responses to a single session of Pilates among adults with hypertension. Thirteen participants (7 women), aged 44-66 years, underwent Pilates and nonexercise control sessions separated by 48-72 hours in a randomized counterbalanced order. Blood pressure and HRV indices were simultaneously assessed 10 minutes before and 60 minutes after all sessions in the supine position: root mean square of successive differences (rMSSD), percentage of successive normal sinus RR intervals >50 ms (pNN50), SD of all normal sinus RR intervals over 24 hours (SDNN), and low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) bands. After an acute session of Pilates, the mean values for area under the curve for systolic BP (p = 0.004, corresponding to -7.4 +/- 8.2 mm Hg) and mean arterial pressure (p = 0.023, corresponding to -5.3 +/- 5.4 mm Hg) were significantly lower compared to the control session. No significant difference was detected for diastolic BP (-4.2 +/- 4.7 mm Hg, p = 0.106). Concomitant to BP reduction, significant lowering of parasympathetic HRV indices occurred: RR intervals (-64.1 +/- 69.9 ms[middle dot]min-1, p = 0.043), rMSSD (-8.3 +/- 15.4 ms[middle dot]min-1, p = 0.013), pNN50 (-3.6 +/- 13%[middle dot]min-1, p = 0.028), and total power (-3,089.4 +/- 5,938 m2[middle dot]min-1, p = 0.037). No difference was found for sympathetic markers: SDNN (-17.7 +/- 34.6 ms[middle dot]min-1, p = 0.100), LF (-5.2 +/- 21,6 n.u.[middle dot]min-1, p = 0.417), and LF:HF ratio (-0.3 +/- 5.2 ratio[middle dot]min-1, p = 0.422). In conclusion, a single session of Pilates reduced BP by ~5-8 mm Hg in adults with hypertension during the first 60 minutes of post-exercise recovery. Acute BP reduction was concomitant to lowered cardiac parasympathetic activity. Our findings are promising for the use of Pilates as an alternative exercise modality to lower BP.
