The objective of this study was to verify the systolic arterial blood pressure (PAS) and diastolic arterial blood pressure (PAD), heart rate (FC) and double-product (DP) during and after the knee extension performed unilaterally and bilaterally until exhaustion. Eighteen healthy volunteers six - men and 12 women (33 ± 11 years old; 63.5 ± 11.4 kg; 168.6 ± 7.1 cm), experienced on strength training, performed three series of 12 maximal repetitions of knee extension unilaterally (UN) and bilaterally (BI). The arterial blood pressure was measured through the auscultatory method at the end of each series and during 20 minutes after the exercise, with 5-minute intervals. The two-way ANOVA with repeated measures showed that the percentile variation in relation to the rest situation (D%) of the PAS was significantly higher at the 3rd series (UN = 31.7 ± 11.9%; BI = 38.5 ± 10.9%) than at the 1st (UN = 19.5 ± 12.5%; BI = 26.0 ± 10.2%). With regard to the PAD, the D% was higher at the 3rd series (UN = 48.5 ± 13.9%; BI = 51.4 ± 13.3%) than at the 1st (UN = 30.5 ± 13.0%; BI = 34.9 ± 16.0%) and 2nd (UN = 40.9 ± 15.4%; BI = 47.3 ± 12.9%). No differences for FC and DP were observed as well as between the performance modes. After the exercise, no differences between all variables observed were identified. Apparently, the performance mode of the knee unilateral extension would not reflect on the acute cardiovascular responses, during or after the exercise. However, the bilateral performance showed tendency to elevate the values of PAS and DP in relation to the unilateral performance, what should be considered in prescriptions for people who need special cares.
Strength; Training; Cardiovascular physiology; Health
