[The effects of nonsupervised exercise program, via internet, on blood pressure and body composition in normotensive and prehypertensive individuals].
OBJECTIVE
To verify the effects of a six-month non-supervised physical training program followed via the Internet on blood pressure and body composition in normotensive and borderline hypertensive individuals.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty five individuals were divided into two groups: 1) normotensive individual (n = 57), 43 +/- 1 years of age, systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 120 and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) < 80 mmHg (GI); and 2) borderline hypertensive individual (n = 78), 46 +/- 1 years of age, SBP 120 to 139 and DBP 80 to 89 mmHg (GII).


RESULTS
After a three and six-month physical training, GII individuals showed a significant reduction in SBP (-3.6 +/- 0.94 and -10 +/- 0.94 mmHg, p < 0.05, respectively) and PAD (-6.5 +/- 1 and -7.1 +/- 0.9 mmHg, p < 0.05, respectively), body weight (-1.12 +/- 0.26 and -1.25 +/- 0.31 kg, p < 0.05, respectively), BMI (-0.79 +/- 0.4 and -0.84 +/- 0.41 kg/m2, p < 0.05, respectively) and waist circumference (-1.12 +/- 0.53 and -1.84 +/- 0.56 cm, p < 0.05, respectively). In the GI group, the physical training led to a decrease in waist circumference at the sixth month (-1.6 +/- 0.63 cm, p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This program decreases blood pressure, body weight, BMI, and waist circumference in borderline hypertensive individuals, and is therefore a safe and low-cost strategy in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and improvement of health status of the population.
Nunes
Ana Paula de Oliveira Barbosa
AP
Instituto do Coração, Hospital das Clínicas, FMUSP, São Paulo, SP. ana.nunes@incor.usp.br
Rios
Aline Cristina dos Santos
AC
Cunha
Gisela Arsa da
GA
Barretto
Antonio Carlos Pereira
AC
Negrão
Carlos Eduardo
CE