Aerobic exercise improves cardiorespiratory fitness but does not reduce blood pressure in prehypertensive African American women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of a 10-week aerobic exercise training intervention on blood pressure, cardiorespiratory fitness, and workload in African American women with prehypertension.


METHODS
After we obtained informed consent and medical clearance, each participant underwent baseline measurements, an aerobic exercise-training regimen, and postintervention assessments.


METHODS
This investigation took place in Columbus, Ohio, on the campus of The Ohio State University.


METHODS
Twelve sedentary African American women with prehypertension volunteered to participate.


METHODS
Study participants trained three days per week for 30 minutes per session at an intensity of 70% maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) for 10 weeks.


METHODS
Blood pressure, cardiorespiratory fitness, and workload achieved.


RESULTS
Exercise training resulted in a significant improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness and workload capacity. However, no significant reductions in blood pressure were seen after the 10-week aerobic exercise period.


CONCLUSIONS
Ten weeks of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, three times a week at 70% VO2 peak, is a sufficient stimulus to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and workload achieved. However, this exercise regimen was not adequate in eliciting a simultaneous reduction in systolic, diastolic, or mean arterial blood pressure in this cohort of prehypertensive African American women. Additional studies are needed to determine specific exercise protocols that would be effective in lowering blood pressure in various populations. These exercise protocols may vary across ethnicity, sex, and disease status.
Stephens
Quiona
Q
Physical Activity and Educational Services Department, Exercise Physiology Division, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA. qstephens@usuhs.mil
Kirby
Timothy
T
Buckworth
Janet
J
Devor
Steven
S
Hamlin
Robert
R
D001741:Black or African American; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness