The chronic effects of muscle-resistance training in arterial pressure of hypertensive older adults: a meta-analysis

Os efeitos crônicos do treinamento de resistência muscular na pressão arterial de idosos hipertensos: uma metanálise

Los efectos crónicos del entrenamiento de resistencia muscular en la presión arterial de los ancianos hipertensos: una metanálisis

Abstract

Introduction:

Little research has been done on the effects of muscle-resistance training (RT) in hypertensive older adults.

Objective:

The aim of this meta-analysis was to verify the efficacy of RT, on a chronic basis, on the systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of hypertensive older adults.

Method:

Several literature databases were explored to find studies on controlled and randomized trials that evaluated the effects of RT in hypertensive older adults for more than 10 weeks. Profile of the participants, sample size, intervention protocol, and results of SBP and DBP were analyzed. The PEDro scale and the Cochrane tool were used to analyze the methodological quality of the studies and the risk of bias, respectively. The RevMan5.3 program was used to analyze the results on the SBP and DBP after the RT intervention and in the control groups.

Results:

The meta-analysis of five studies considering 96 hypertensive individuals who underwent RT and 104 hypertensive control subjects showed that the regular practice of RT from 12 to 16 weeks, three times a week, with three sets from 8 to 12 repetitions at an intensity of 60% to 80% of one-repetition maximum (1-RM), significantly reduced SBP by 7.26 mmHg (95%CI = -9.16 - 5.37) and DBP by 4.84 mmHg (95%CI = -5.89 - 3.79).

Conclusion:

The muscle-resistance training was effective in reducing, chronically, the blood pressure of hypertensive older adults. It can also decrease the need for medication inherent to hypertension.

Keywords:
Resistance Training; Elderly; Hypertension

Resumo

Introdução:

Pouca pesquisa foi realizada sobre os efeitos do treinamento de resistência muscular (TR) em adultos idosos hipertensos.

Objetivo:

O objetivo da presente metanálise foi verificar a eficácia da TR, de forma crônica, na pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) e diastólica (PAD) de idosos com hipertensão controlada.

Método:

Várias bases de dados da literatura foram exploradas para encontrar estudos que examinaram ensaios clínicos controlados e randomizados que avaliaram os efeitos do TR em idosos hipertensos por um período de mais de 10 semanas. Foi analisado o perfil dos participantes, o tamanho da amostra, o protocolo de intervenção e os resultados da PAS e PAD. A Escala PEDro e a ferramenta Cochrane foram utilizadas para analisar a qualidade metodológica dos estudos e o risco de viés, respectivamente. O programa RevMan5.3 foi usado para analisar os resultados na PAS e PAD após a intervenção TR e nos grupos de controle.

Resultados:

A metanálise de cinco estudos incluiu que, considerando os 96 indivíduos hipertensos submetidos à TR e 104 sujeitos de controle hipertensos, a prática regular de TR por 12 a 16 semanas, três vezes por semana, com três séries de 8 a 12 repetições em uma intensidade de 60% a 80% do teste de uma repetição máxima (1-RM), reduziram significativamente a PAS em 7,26 mmHg (IC 95% = -9,16 - 5,37) e PAD por 4,84 mmHg (IC 95% = -5,89 - 3,79).

Conclusão:

O treinamento resistido muscular foi eficaz na redução crônica da pressão arterial de idosos hipertensos controlados, podendo diminuir a necessidade de medicação anti-hipertensiva. Estes resultados implicam uma maior sobrevivência para esta população, bem como uma possível diminuição da necessidade de medicamentos inerentes à hipertensão.

Palavras-chave:
Treinamento de Resistência; Idosos; Hipertensão

Resumen

Introducción:

Poca investigación se realizó sobre los efectos del entrenamiento de resistencia muscular (ER) en adultos mayores hipertensos.

Objectivo:

El objetivo del presente metanálisis fue verificar la eficacia del ET, de forma crónica, en la presión arterial sistólica (PAS) y diastólica (PAD) de ancianos con hipertensión controlada.

Método:

Varias bases de datos de la literatura se exploraron para encontrar estudios que examinaron ensayos clínicos controlados y aleatorizados que evaluaron los efectos del ER en ancianos hipertensos por un período de más de 10 semanas. Se analizó el perfil de los participantes, el tamaño de la muestra, el protocolo de intervención y los resultados de la PAS y PAD. La Escala PEDro y la herramienta Cochrane se utilizaron para analizar la calidad metodológica de los estudios y el riesgo de sesgos, respectivamente. El programa RevMan5.3 fue utilizado para analizar los resultados en la PAS y PAD después de la intervención ER y en los grupos de control.

Resultados:

El metanálisis de cinco estudios incluyó que, considerando los 96 individuos hipertensos sometidos a ET y 104 sujetos de control hipertensos, la práctica regular de ET por 12 a 16 semanas, tres veces por semana, con tres series de 8 a 12 repeticiones en una intensidad del 60% al 80% de una repetición máxima (1-RM), redujo significativamente la PAS en 7,26 mmHg (IC 95% = -9,16 - 5,37) y DBP por 4,84 mmHg (IC 95% = -5,89 - 3,79).

Conclusión:

El entrenamiento resistido muscular fue eficaz en la reducción de la presión arterial de ancianos hipertensos controlados, crónicamente, y puede disminuir la necesidad de medicación antihipertensiva.

Palabras clave:
Resistencia de Entrenamiento; Edad; Hipertensión

Introduction

Systemic Hypertension (SH) is the elevation of blood pressure levels above values considered normal for a certain age group, which is defined for young adults as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg, or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg ¹, while for individuals aged 60 years or older, values of ≥ 150/90 mmHg are considered ².

SH is among the cardiovascular diseases whose prevalence has been increasing with age ³. It is considered the main risk factor for other cardiovascular diseases and cerebrovascular accidents ^{1), (4), (5}. In the USA, the prevalence of SH in adults ≥ 20 years is 34%. In adults aged over 60, the prevalence rises to 67% ¹. Furthermore, medication control of blood pressure in older adults is less effective than in younger individuals ³, so the use of non-pharmacological hypotensive treatments, such as physical exercises, has been recommended ⁶.

Several studies, including meta-analyses, have investigated the effects of physical exercise on the reduction of blood pressure in normotensive and hypertensive individuals of different age groups ^6)-(9. Cardiorespiratory training (CT) is known to increase the maximal oxygen consumption in older adults ¹⁰, maintain resistance to oxidative stress and improve lifestyle ¹¹ with its effects on blood pressure, which is well established in the literature. CT is therefore suggested as a complementary treatment for hypertension ¹². The same cannot be said for resistance training (RT).

Recently, MacDonald et al. ⁹ carried out a meta-analysis showing that RT promoted chronic reductions in blood pressure compared with CT in middle-aged, overweight, white, pre-hypertensive women. However, this study did not involve the effects of the RT on the blood pressure of older adults, especially those who already present SH.

The lack of systematic reviews or meta-analyses that adequately establish the chronic effects of RT on SBP and DBP in hypertensive older adults justifies this study, especially considering that it is a type of training that has been highly recommended for this age group, as it has a positive impact on the functional autonomy of this population ^{13), (14}.

In older subjects, the acute effects of RT improve functional capacity ¹⁵, increase muscle strength and mass ^{16), (17}, and reduce post-exercise blood pressure ¹⁸. However, the chronic effects of RT on blood pressure in hypertensive older adults are not well established. Thus, the aim of this meta-analysis was to verify the chronic effects of RT on the systolic and diastolic blood pressure of hypertensive older adults.

Methods

This meta-analysis followed the PRISMA recommendations ¹⁹.

Protocol and Registration

A review protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42017072922).

Eligibility criteria

Randomized controlled trials were included in this meta-analysis to evaluate the chronic effects of resistance training (RT) on hypertensive older adults. Studies that used training protocols with less than 10 weeks, that combined aerobic training with resistance training or those without a control group (CG) were excluded. Individuals who were included in the group that did not have any type of training were considered to comprise the CG.

Search strategy

Two evaluators conducted searches independently, in April 2017, at the US National Library of Medicine (MEDLINE), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Virtual Health Library (VHL), SCOPUS, SPORTDiscus and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL). The following descriptors were used as Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), with their respective synonyms: hypertension, elderly, and resistance training. The search phrase was obtained using the AND logic operator between the descriptors and OR between the synonyms. No language filter or time was delimited for the search. Other reviews and meta-analyses were consulted in order to find other studies, which were added manually.

Data collection procedure

The following data were extracted from the selected studies: the profile of the participants, sample size, study design, protocol of the intervention performed, and the SBP and DBP results, with their respective levels of significance.

Risk of bias and evaluation of the quality of the studies

To evaluate the quality of the studies, the PEDro Scale ²⁰ of methodological evaluation was used, which consists of the sum of the scores from 11 domains, namely: 1) Eligibility of the participants; 2) Random distribution; 3) Concealed distribution; 4) Comparison of groups at baseline; 5) Blinding of participants; 6) Blinding of therapists; 7) Blinding of evaluators; 8) Measurement of at least one key outcome in 85% of subjects allocated; 9) Intention to treat; 10) Comparison between groups; 11) Measures of accuracy and variability. A study received 1 point if it met the requirement for a particular domain and 0 points if it did not. Only domain “1” was not included in the total score. Higher scores indicate better methodological quality of the study.

The Cochrane Scale ^{21), (22} was used to assess the risk of bias of the studies. Seven domains are evaluated in this scale, being classified as HIGH, UNCERTAIN or LOW risk of bias: 1) Randomization; 2) Allocation concealment; 3) Blinding of participants; 4) Blinding of evaluators; 5) Incomplete outcome data; 6) Selective reporting; 7) Other sources of bias. For a study to present a low risk of bias, all domains should receive a low risk assessment. If any domain is at “HIGH risk,” the study is classified as having a “HIGH risk” of bias. In the absence of domains at “HIGH risk,” the presence of at least one domain with uncertain risk implies in the classification of the study as having “UNCERTAIN risk” of bias. The publication bias was analyzed by the funnel graph.

Funnel plots were developed to detect publication bias in meta-analysis.

Data Analysis

To analyze the SBP and DBP results after the intervention of the resistance training and the control groups, the RevMan5.3 program was obtained free of charge from http://community.cochrane.org/tools/review-production-tools/revman-5.3. The inverse variance statistical method was used, considering the SBP and DBP as continuous variables, the effect measure as the weighted mean difference and using the fixed effect analysis model. A 95%CI was considered for the studies and for the meta-analysis, which were ordered by weight.

Level of evidence

The quality of the evidence associated with the result of each meta-analysis was assessed with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach (GRADE), which indicates the confidence that can be placed in the estimate of the treatment effect ^23)-(26.

Results

Figure 1 shows the results of the meta-analysis. A total of 1,318 articles were identified in this meta-analysis, 1,298 of them were identified through database searching, and 20 overlooked studies were identified by consulting other reviews and meta-analyses on the subject and were added manually. Then 23 duplicates were removed, and 1,290 studies were excluded after failing to meet the inclusion criteria. Five studies involving a total of 200 participants met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. All of the studies had been published (or accepted for publication) in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Figure 1
Flow diagram of the studies included.

Table 1 shows the characteristics of the studies included. Table 2 shows the RT protocols of the studies.

Table 1
Characteristics of the studies included

Study/year	Sample	Results of the variables
Terra et al., 2008 27	n = 52 hypertensive older women, controlled with antihypertensive medication	RTG:
		SBP(mmHg): Pre-training: 125.2 ± 9.3; Post-training: 114.7 ± 9.2 (p = 0.01 intragroup and pre x post) / p < 0.01 intergroup;
		DBP(mmHg): Pre-training: 72.0 ± 6.8; Post-training: 71.04 ± 7.9 (p = 0.3) / p > 0.05 intergroup.
	Age: 65.9 ± 4.5 years.	CG: No difference was found.
		SBP(mmHg): Pre-training: 124.6 ± 10.1; Post-training: 123.3 ± 13.5;
		DBP(mmHg): Pre-training: 74.2 ± 7.3; Post-training: 73.3 ± 7.5 .
Gonçalves et al., 2014 28	n = 17 hypertensive older adults, controlled with antihypertensive medication, nonsmokers and with sedentary lifestyle for more than six months (>60 years)	RTG:
		SBP(mmHg): Pre-training: 126.0 ± 5.2; Post-training: 122.9 ± 4.49 (p = 0.10); DBP(mmHg): Pre-training: 80.9 ± 3.3; Post-training: 81.9 ± 4.4 (p = 0.08);
	Age: RTG = 65.6 ± 1.9; and CG = 66.1 ± 1.2 years.	CG:
		SBP(mmHg): Pre-training: 137.0 ± 5.0; Post-training: 134.9 ± 4.5;
		DBP(mmHg): Pre-training: 88.3 ± 2.6; Post-training: 88.7 ± 2.7;
Mota et al., 2013 29	n = 64 hypertensive older adults with sedentary lifestyle for more than 6 months, hypertension controlled with antihypertensive medication.	RTG:
		SBP (mmHg): Pre-training: 134.5 ± 14.6; Post-training: 120.2 ± 11.8 (p < 0.05 intergroup from the 3rd week);
		DBP (mmHg): Pre-training: 76.0 ± 9.2; Post-training: 72.4 ± 9.3 (p < 0.05 intragroup and p > 0.05 intergroup).
	Age: 67.1±6.2 years.	CG:
		SBP (mmHg): Pre-training: 131.8 ± 16.9; Post-training: 132.3 ± 17.6; (p > 0.05)
		DBP (mmHg): Pre-training: 74.3 ± 7.4; Post-training: 73.8 ± 7.8 (p > 0.05)
Dantas et al., 2016 10	n = 25 sedentary hypertensive older women, controlled with antihypertensive medication, aged between 60 and 75 years;	RTG:
		SBP(mmHg): pre-training: 142.9 ± 13.1; Post-training = 137.1 ± 12.2
		DBP(mmHg): pre-training: 68.2 ± 6.2; post-training: 64.9 ± 5.1
	Age: 64.7±4.7 years (RTG) and 67.7±5.6 years (CG).	CG:
		SBP(mmHg): pre-training = 139.9 ± 10.3; post-training: 144.9 ± 14.1 (p = 0.050 intergroup)
		DBP(mmHg): pre-training: 67.4 ± 9.5; post-training: 72.0 ± 7.7 (p = 0.016 intergroup)
Heffernan et al., 2013 30	n = 21 participants with pre-hypertension or hypertension without treatment.	RTG:
		SBP (mmHg): pre-training = 140 ± 4; post-training = 134 ± 4
		DBP (mmHg): pre-training = 83 ± 2; post-training = 77 ± 2;
	Age: 61±1 years	CG:
		SBP (mmHg): pre-training = 136 ± 4; post-training: 139 ± 4;
		DBP(mmHg): pre-training = 86 ± 2; post-training = 82 ± 2.

• Note: n = sample size; CG = control group; RTG = resistance training group; SBP = systolic blood pressure; DBP = diastolic blood pressure.

Table 2
Resistance training protocols of the studies

Study	Exercises	Familiarization	Duration (weeks)	Weekly frequency	Intensity	Protocol
Terra et al., 2008 27	Lateral pulldown, knee extension, chest press, leg abduction, knee flexion, shoulder abduction with dumbbell, standing calf raise, abdominal exercises, trunk extension, and 45-degree leg press.	No	12	3x per week on alternate days	Weeks 1-4: 60% of 1-RM;	3 sets of 12, 10 and 8 repetitions.
					Weeks 5-8: 70% of 1-RM;
					Weeks 9-12: 80% of 1-RM;
Gonçalves et al., 2014 28	Vertical bench press, leg extension, front pull with high pulley, leg curl, barbell curls on Scott bench, seated calf raise, triceps pulley, and crunch.	2 weeks	12	3x per week	The initial load of 40% of 1-RM (increased individually each week for perceived exertion to be between “mild” and “moderate.”	2 sets of 15 repetitions, except calf muscle exercises (2 sets x 20 reps) and crunch (2 sets x 30 reps); 1:2 ratio.
Mota et al., 2013 29	Knee flexion, shoulder abduction with free weights, independent calf lift, crunch, trunk extension, and 45-degree leg press;	Yes (1 month) 12 low-intensity exercise sessions, performing ten repetitions in each set with a 30-second interval between sets.	16	3x per week	60% of 1-RM;	3 sets, 12 repetitions and 60” rest interval between sets.
					70% of 1-RM;	3 sets, 10 repetitions with 60” rest interval between sets.
					80% of 1-RM;	3 sets, 8 repetitions with 90” rest interval between sets.
Dantas et al., 2016 10	Leg press; rowing machine; trunk flexion; knee flexion, bench press, trunk extension, push press, plantar flexion, and front pull.			2x per week	*PES = 5-7	1 set, 9-11 repetitions; 120” interval between sets;
				2x per week		2 sets, 9-11 repetitions; 120” interval between sets;
				2x per week		2 sets, 11-13 repetitions; 90” interval between sets;
				3x per week		2 sets, 11-13 repetitions; 90” interval between sets;
				3x per week		3 sets, 11-13 repetitions; 90” interval between sets;
				3x per week		Weeks 9-11: 3 sets, 13-15 repetitions; 60” interval between sets;
Heffernan et al., 2013 30	Vertical bench press, front pull, paddling, biceps curl, leg press, knee extension, knee flexion, crunch, and trunk extension;	No	12	3x per week	Initial load: 40% of 1-RM for MMSS and 60% for MMII;	2 sets of 12-15 repetitions.
					The load increased 5% every 3 weeks, until subjects could easily perform 15 repetitions.

• Note: RTG = resistance training group; 1-RM = one-repetition-maximum; PES* - Perceived Exertion Scale (OMNI-RES) adapted for strength training.

Table 3 shows the methodological quality of the studies. The score in the PEDro Scale ranged from 3 to 7 points. Table 4 shows the risk of bias evaluated with Cochrane Scale. Two studies presented high risk ^{27), (29}; two presented uncertain risk ^{28), (30}; and one presented low risk of bias ¹⁰. Most of the studies failed to comply with the domains “randomization” and “allocation concealment.”

Table 3
Methodological quality of the studies

Study	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Score
Dantas et al. (2016) 10	1	1	1	1	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	7/10
Heffernan et al (2013) 30	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	6/10
Terra et al. (2008) 27	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	5/10
Mota et al. (2013) 29	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	5/10
Gonçalves et al (2014) 28	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	3/10

• Note: 1) Eligibility of the participants; 2) Random distribution; 3) Concealed distribution; 4) Comparison of groups at baseline; 5) Blinding of participants; 6) Blinding of therapists; 7) Blinding of evaluators; 8) Measurement of at least one key outcome in 85% of subjects allocated; 9) Intention to treat; 10) Comparison between groups; 11) Measures of accuracy and variability.

Table 4
Risk of bias analysis of the studies

Author/year	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Risk
Terra et al. (2008) 27	High	High	Low*	Low*	Low	Low	Low	High
Dantas et al. (2016) 10	Low	Low	Low*	Low*	Low	Low	Low	Low
Gonçalves et al (2014) 28	Uncertain	Uncertain	Low*	Low*	Uncertain	Low	Low	Uncertain
Mota et al. (2013) 29	High	High	Low*	Low*	Low	Low	Low	High
Heffernan et al (2013) 30	Uncertain	Uncertain	Low*	Low*	Low	Low	Uncertain	Uncertain

• Note: 1) Randomization; 2) Allocation concealment; 3) Blinding of participants; 4) Blinding of evaluators; 5) Incomplete outcome data; 6) Selective reporting; 7) Other sources of bias. * Domain characterized with low risk due to the impossibility of blinding the RT participants and evaluators.

The meta-analysis (Figure 2) of 96 participants in the intervention group and 104 in the control group showed that RT reduces 7.26 mmHg (95%CI = -7.26, -5.37) in SBP and 4.84 in DBP (95%CI = -5.89, -3,79). Publication bias was not suspected in the meta-analysis since there was a symmetrical scatter of the studies in the funnel plot (Figure 3).

Figure 2
Meta-analysis results of the effects of resistance training on blood pressure of hypertensive older adults: (A) systolic blood pressure (SBP); (B) diastolic blood pressure (DBP).

Figure 3
Funnel chart for the effects of resistance training on blood pressure of hypertensive older adults: (A) systolic blood pressure (SBP); (B) diastolic blood pressure (DBP).

Using the GRADE approach, the overall quality of evidence was low (Table 5).

Table 5
Level of evidence with Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation of the meta-analysis (GRADE)

Certainty assessment							No. of patients		Effect		Certainty	Importance
No. of studies	Study design	Risk of bias	Inconsistency	Indirectness	Imprecision	Other considerations	RT	CG	Relative (95% CI)	Absolute (95% CI)
SBP
5	randomized trials	very serious	not serious	not serious	not serious	none	96	104	-	mean		CRITICAL
										7.26 mmHg	⨁⨁◯◯
										(9.16 higher to 5.37 higher)	LOW
DBP
5	randomized trials	very serious	not serious	not serious	not serious	none	96	104	-	mean		CRITICAL
										4.84 mmHg	⨁⨁◯◯
										(5.89 higher to 3.79 higher)	LOW

• Note: CI = Confidence interval; SBP = systolic blood pressure; DBP = diastolic blood pressure.; RT = resistance training group; CG = control group.

Discussion

This meta-analysis showed that the regular practice of RT from 12 to 16 weeks, three times a week, with three sets of 8-12 repetitions at an intensity from 60% to 80% of 1-RM, significantly reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) by 7.26 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by 4.84 mmHg (Figure 2).

Hypertension is widely associated with increased cardiovascular disease, and physical exercise is recommended as a strategy for the prevention and treatment of these diseases ³¹.

The guideline on lifestyle management to reduce cardiovascular risk published by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology highlights an association between higher levels of physical exercise, lower rates of chronic noncommunicable diseases, and increased longevity ³². The document shows the effect of CT on blood pressure in adults (including hypertensive individuals) reduces SBP by an average of 2-5 mmHg and DBP by 1-4 mmHg over at least 12 weeks of intervention, and RT does not present similar evidence consistently. Therefore, only aerobic physical exercises are recommended to reduce blood pressure, which should be performed at moderate to vigorous intensity, three to four times a week, in sessions with an average duration of 40 minutes.

Corroborating the recommendations of the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, the Brazilian Society of Cardiology, in its 7^th Brazilian Guideline of Arterial Hypertension, also presents physical exercise as a non-medication treatment, emphasizing CT as preferential for this purpose, claiming that RT reduces the blood pressure of pre-hypertensive patients; however, it has no effect on hypertensive patients ³³. According to these guidelines, CT reduces ± 2.1 mmHg in SBP and 1.7 mmHg in DBP in pre-hypertensive patients and ± 8.3 mmHg in SBP and 5.2 mmHg in DBP in hypertensive patients, while RT reduces ± 4.0 mmHg in SBP and 3.8 mmHg in DBP in pre-hypertensive patients, with no reductions in hypertensive individuals.

Contradicting the positions described above, McDonald et al. ⁹ performed a meta-analysis to provide accurate estimates of the efficacy of dynamic RT as an autonomous antihypertensive therapy for adults (47.2 ± 19 years). The authors found reductions of 3.0 mmHg in SBP and 2.1 mmHg in DBP; greater SBP reductions were found in studies with non-white samples and with those who were not taking medication; greater reductions in DBP were found in studies with samples that presented higher DBP at rest (5.2≈mmHg in hypertensive patients, 3.3 mmHg in pre-hypertensive patients, 1.0 mmHg in normotensive patients), and with samples that did not take medication. Data showed that the dose-response relationship of RT reduces blood pressure more than that of CT. It is noteworthy that this meta-analysis involved studies with young adults (47.2 ± 19.0 years) and little is known about the effect of the RT on the blood pressure of hypertensive older adults.

The evidence found in this meta-analysis does not corroborate the positions of the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology or the 7^th Brazilian Guideline of Arterial Hypertension, being more in line with the findings of McDonald et al. ⁹, who found reductions in both SBP and DBP in young adults. These significant reductions in SBP and DBP after RT can be explained due to the responses of the cardiorespiratory system to exercise, as the increase in energy demand also increases heart rate, systolic volume and, consequently, decreases peripheral vascular resistance due to the release of nitric oxide into the bloodstream; thus reducing blood pressure as the final result ³⁴. Although some types of training may be more effective in triggering such responses, such as CT in younger people ³⁵, in general, any physical exercise will produce them, stimulating the cardiorespiratory system to promote greater responses (consequently, greater reductions in arterial pressure). Considering this study showed a similar reduction in blood pressure to that of aerobic exercise, we can deduce that RT affects this system, at least in older adults, corroborating the findings of Silva et al., 2016 ³⁶ and Silva & Farinatti, 2012 ³⁷.

Observing the studies that are part of this meta-analysis, the adjustment of the training load was performed by the perceived exertion scale (PSE) or by the percentage of the result in the test of a maximum resistance (1-RM) (Table 2). To obtain the chronic effects of BP reduction is essential, and the one that controls the load by the 1-RM test is indicated between the two forms mentioned above, since it is a valid ³⁸ and reliable ³⁹ tool. There is still no consensus regarding the optimal dose to achieve the best possible response of lowering blood pressure in older adults, or the best combination of RT variables (volume x intensity); however, studies suggest a low to moderate intensity ⁴⁰. This fact reveals another gap to be investigated in future studies. Furthermore, the impact of resistance training on the cardiorespiratory capacity and autonomic response should be investigated, considering that these mechanisms affect the clinical framework of hypertension ⁴¹.

Muscular strength tends to decrease throughout the aging process, which is strongly related to the loss of the functional capacity in older adults ⁴². Thus, interventions to train this physical capacity are important to present the possibility of positively affecting the functional autonomy ^{13), (14}. Considering the generally low adherence to physical exercise in this population ⁴³, a single modality that promotes beneficial effects both in autonomy and in the reduction of blood pressure, such as RT, can present a promising non-medication therapy.

Except for the study by Gonçalves et al. ²⁸, the other four studies of this meta-analysis presented a score of 5.0 or more on the PEDro Scale. If we consider that it is impossible to fulfill criteria 5 and 6 of the Scale for this type of study, this meta-analysis showed a good methodological quality, which contributed substantially to the internal validity of this study (Table 2). In contrast, a high risk of bias was prevalent, as three of the four studies that randomly allocated the older adults into the groups did not report how this randomization was performed.

Despite the evidence presented here, the affirmation that RT has a positive impact on the reduction of SBP and DBP at rest in older adults should be viewed with caution, since, of the 1,318 studies found, only 5 were selected for this meta-analysis. The restriction criteria adopted led to the exclusion of 1,290 studies, showing the need for more randomized controlled trials investigating RT and systemic hypertension (Figure 1). Due to the low level of evidence, a new research may change the results found. Further studies on the subject are recommended (Table 5).

Although the authors of the studies selected for this meta-analysis ensured that the older adults were hypertensive, the initial values (pre-training) of SBP and DBP were below 150 and 90 mmHg, respectively (Table 1), which characterized a state of normotension, as the older participants in the studies had their blood pressure controlled through medication. However, the presence of an inactive control group in all the studies could be a confounding factor of the results found in this meta-analysis. It is also noteworthy that hypertensive older adults almost always control their blood pressure with medication due to medical recommendations.

Conclusion

RT was effective in reducing the blood pressure of controlled hypertensive older adults. The action of medication on blood pressure, which could be a confounding factor of the results, was controlled by the presence of an inactive control group in all studies included in this meta-analysis. The results of this meta-analysis are relevant and have a great practical implication, since muscular strength tends to decrease throughout the aging process. Therefore, RT can affect the functional autonomy and, probably, decrease the blood pressure of this population. A single modality that promotes beneficial effects both in autonomy and in the reduction of blood pressure, presents itself as a promising non-medication therapy. Furthermore, considering the functional, organic and biological conditions of older adults, these results imply a higher survival rate in this population, as well as a possible decrease in the need for medication inherent to hypertension.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  25 Feb 2019
• Date of issue
  2019

History

• Received
  04 July 2018
• Accepted
  26 Nov 2018