Efeito do treinamento resistido com restrição de fluxo sanguíneo sobre parâmetros cardiovasculares de idosos: comparação entre hipertensos e normotensos

Abstract

The aging of the Brazilian population has led to a significant increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, particularly arterial hypertension, one of the main risk factors for global mortality. In this context, non-pharmacological therapeutic strategies such as physical exercise, particularly resistance training (RT), have proven effective. However, the effects of resistance training with blood flow restriction (RT-BFR) on cardiovascular parameters in hypertensive and normotensive older adults are still poorly understood. This study aimed to analyze the chronic effects of an RT-BFR protocol on blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive and normotensive older adults, with emphasis on clinical and ambulatory BP. The sample consisted of 32 older adults, divided into two groups: hypertensive RT-BFR (RT-BFR-H) and normotensive RT-BFR (RT-BFR-N). The intervention protocol lasted 10 weeks, with sessions held twice a week, using 35% of 1-RM and 70% of total occlusion pressure. Intragroup comparisons of clinical and outpatient variables were performed using the paired test for normal distributions, or alternatively, the paired Wilcoxon test for non-normal distributions. The results showed that RT-BFR did not alter clinical BP in the RT-BFR-H group; however, it promoted reductions in systolic, diastolic, and mean clinical BP values, as well as in the double product in the RT-BFR-N group. Regarding ambulatory BP the RT-BFR-H group showed a reduction in mean BP during sleep and stability in other values. In contrast, the RT-BFR-N group showed increases in systolic ambulatory BP over 24 hours, during wakefulness and sleep, as well as in mean ambulatory BP over 24 hours. However, these values remained within the normal range. It is concluded that RT-BFR is a safe alternative for improving the cardiovascular health of older adults who have limitations in using higher loads, promoting BP benefits even with lower loads. The difference between clinical and ambulatory responses suggests the need for further studies to understand the autonomic adaptation to RT-BFR in different BP contexts. These findings have direct implications for exercise prescription in older populations, especially in the search for individualized strategies with low cardiovascular risk.