INTRODUCTION: Blood pressure represents one of the most important factors of physical incapacity and premature death in adult populations of the civilized world, and physical exercise has been recommended as non-medicinal treatment. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the behavior of blood pressure and heart rate in hypertensive and normotensive individuals during walking and resting when immersed in water at different depths. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty individuals were evaluated, 10 hypertensive and 10 normotensive, submitted to 4 evaluations, as follows: immersed and under rest until the depth of the xifoid process for 20 minutes and 3 evaluations walking for 20 minutes at 65% of the reserve heart rate frequency, each at a different depth: umbilical scar, xifoid process and shoulders. RESULTS: After data analysis it was possible to observe that after the session where the subject remained immersed and under rest, there was a sudden increase of the blood pressure when the individual left the water. However, data relating to the sessions where the evaluated individuals performed physical activities show a significant reduction in blood pressure, and it remained reduced for at least 20 minutes after leaving the water (p < 0.05). This reduction was more evident when the exercise was performed at the depth of the xifoid process. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The aerobic exercise performed in neutral temperature water contributes to decrease blood pressure both in hypertensive as well as in normotensive individuals, becoming an important allied in the control of blood pressure.
Hypertension; Hydrotherapy; Hydrogymnastic; Physiotherapy
