Contact Karate Promotes Post-Exercise Hypotension in Young Adult Males.
BACKGROUND
Worldwide, systemic arterial hypertension is a leading cause of death and non-communicable cardiovascular disease. A major factor contributing to this disease is a sedentary lifestyle. However, physical exercise, such as martial arts, may be an option for blood pressure (BP) control. The magnitude of post-exercise hypotension is associated with a prolonged decrease in BP in normotensive and hypertensive individuals.


OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to verify the effects of a Contact Karate (CK) session on BP responses during a post-exercise recovery period in young adults.


METHODS
Thirty-two male CK athletes volunteered (28.2 ± 6.7 years; 77.0 ± 5.7 kg; and 176.0 ± 4.7 cm) and underwent one CK session (50 minutes) and a control session in which no exercise was performed and the individuals remain seated during the whole time. BP was measured during rest (before sessions), as well as on the 15th, 30th, 45th, and 60th minutes of the post-exercise recovery.


RESULTS
The systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were significantly lower at the post-exercise period compared to pre-exercise rest (P < 0.05), with the largest reductions being observed at the 60th minutes of recovery [SBP (rest: 125.9 ± 4.7 vs. 60th minutes of recovery: 111.7 ± 5.4 mmHg); DBP (rest: 78.8 ± .7 vs. 60th minutes of recovery: 69.8 ± 2.7 mmHg)] and at the same periods of post-exercise recovery of the control session.


CONCLUSIONS
A single CK session can promote a decrease in BP for at least 60 minutes after performing this type of exercise in young adults.
Programa de Pós-Graducação Strito Sensu em Educação Física, Universidade Catolica de Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil; Escola da Saude, UDF-Centro Universitario, Brasilia, Brazil.
Marcelo
M
Magalhaes Sales
Programa de Pós-Graducação Strito Sensu em Educação Física, Universidade Catolica de Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
Caio
C
Victor de Sousa
Programa de Pós-Graducação Strito Sensu em Educação Física, Universidade Catolica de Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
Wellington
W
Barbosa Sampaio
Programa de Pós-Graducação Strito Sensu em Educação Física, Universidade Catolica de Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
Carlos
C
Ernesto
Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
Rodrigo
R
Alberto Vieira Browne
Faculdade de Educação Física, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Jose
J
Fernando Vila Nova de Moraes
Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Daisy
D
Motta-Santos
Programa de Pós-Graducação Strito Sensu em Educação Física, Universidade Catolica de Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
Milton
M
Rocha Moraes
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami FL, USA.
John
J
Eugene Lewis
Programa de Pós-Graducação Strito Sensu em Educação Física, Universidade Catolica de Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
Herbert
H
Gustavo Simões
Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
Francisco
F
Martins da Silva
Blood Pressure; Cardiovascular Benefits; Fighting Sports; Health Promotion; Martial Arts