Dynamics of heart rate responses to exercise in normotensive men

Abstract

We evaluated cardiovascular responses to exercise in normotensive men according to resting systolic arterial pressure (SAP). Healthy men were split into two groups: G1-Subjects with at rest SAP between 120 and 130 mmHg (n=15) and G2-Subjects with at rest SAP < 120 mmHg (n=20). These conventions were necessary in order to check the recovery of the autonomic nervous system after exercise. Subjects performed physical exercise on a treadmill with intensity equivalent to 60% of Vmax. HR (heart rate) variability was recorded in the following stages: at rest, the 10-minute periods before exercise, during exercise and the 60 minutes periods after exercise. During recovery from exercise G2 presented delayed recovery compared to G1 based on SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50, RRTri, HF, LF, SD1 and SD2 indices. HR recovery in the 3rd minute was higher in G1. Body mass index was greater in G1. In conclusion, normotensive men with SAP below 120 mmHg established delayed HRV recovery following an acute bout of aerobic exercise compared to normotensive men.