The aim of this study was to assess the effect of rest and exercise, accomplished on the ground or in water on the heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and the volume of diuresis in hypertensive and normotensive individuals. Twenty individuals were analyzed and divided into two groups, normotensive (GN, n=8) and hypertensive (GH, n=12). Both groups accomplished four distinct protocols, two protocols of exercise and two protocols of rest on the ground and in the water. The SBP, DBP and HR were measured at rest and at 30, 60 and 90 minutes after each protocol. The volume of diuresis was corrected for the body weight and collected 30 minutes after each protocol. In the GH, the exercise protocol on the ground caused an average reduction of 16.5±3.7 mmHg (p=0.01) in SBP at 90 minutes post-exercise. In the GN, the protocol of rest in the water caused an average reduction of 14 bpm (p<0.01) in HR and the volume of diuresis was increased when compared with the protocols accomplished on the ground (p<0.01). Therefore, the immersion triggered bradycardia and increase in volume of diuresis in the normotensive group. There was no significant hypotensive effect in the protocols performed in water in both groups. The results suggest that an exercise session on the ground during 45 minutes in submaximal intensity causes a reduction in SBP in hypertensive subjects.
exercise therapy; hydrotherapy; hypertension
