Effects of different exercise modes on the exercise capacity and cognitive functioning of elderly persons with hypertension / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effect of aerobic exercise and resistance training on the exercise capacity and cognition of elderly persons with hypertension.Methods Eighty-four elderly persons with essential hypertension were randomly divided into an aerobic exercise (AE) group,a resistance training (RT) group and a sedentary control (SC) group,each of 28.The AE and RT groups received 12 weeks of aerobic exercise or resistance training respectively,while the SC group maintained their normal lifestyles.Before and after the experiment,maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) and time and distance to exhaustion were evaluated using a treadmill and a 30 s Wingate test.Maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of the quadriceps femoris was quantified using an isokinetic ergometer.Perception speed,mental arithmetic,spatial imaging,working memory and memory recall were tested using computer software.Results After the intervention,significant increases were observed in the average VO2max and the time and distance to exhaustion of the AE group.The RT group showed significant improvements in the 30 s Wingate test,as well as in their average MVC,peak power,mean power and fatigue index.The average systolic and diastolic pressure was reduced in both groups but the difference was not significant.Average perception speed,working memory and total score in the cognitive function test had however improved significantly in both groups.There was no significant inter-group difference.The SC group showed no significant changes.Conclusion Either aerobic exercise or resistance training can reduce the blood pressure and improve cognition for elderly persons with essential hypertension,though they have significantly different effects on the exercise capacity.