Chronic effects of the Pilates Method on cardiorespiratory, autonomic, vascular and metabolic responses in controlled hypertensive women

• Grant number: 19/13867-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2020
• End date: April 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Alessandra Medeiros
• Grantee: Alessandra Medeiros
• Host Institution: Instituto de Saúde e Sociedade (ISS). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Claudia Ridel Juzwiak ; David Andrew Low ; Rodolfo Leite Arantes ; Victor Zuniga Dourado

Abstract

Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) is a chronic, multifactorial and multicausal disease with a growing prevalence. In addition, SAH is indicated as one of the main risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases and, therefore, its treatment is of paramount importance. Among non-medicated treatments of hypertension is exercise training (ET). The hypotensive effect of aerobic ET is widely known in the literature, however, data on resistance ET are scarce and controversial. Among the various modalities that work with resistance exercises, we can mention the Pilates Method (PM), which has been widely disseminated, but still little studied from a cardiorespiratory point of view. Recently, we observed that PM was able to reduce systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure both clinically and outpatient at all evaluated moments (waking, sleep and 24h) in controlled hypertensive women. However, the mechanisms responsible for this reduction have not yet been clarified. Thus, we are proposing in the present project, the study of the possible autonomic and vascular mechanisms responsible for the reduction of blood pressure after training period with PM in hypertensive women. For autonomic mechanisms we will perform analysis of heart rate variability and sympathovagal balance. For vascular mechanisms we will perform flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery and biochemical evaluations. In addition, we intend to evaluate the effect of this type of ET on cardiopulmonary capacity; muscular strength and architecture; flexibility; coordination; agility; state of humor; attention; anxiety; stress; depression; sleep quality index and quality of life of medicated hypertensive women. (AU)