RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Worldwide, systemic arterial hypertension is a leading cause of death and non-communicable cardiovascular disease. A major factor contributing to this disease is a sedentary lifestyle. However, physical exercise, such as martial arts, may be an option for blood pressure (BP) control. The magnitude of post-exercise hypotension is associated with a prolonged decrease in BP in normotensive and hypertensive individuals. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to verify the effects of a Contact Karate (CK) session on BP responses during a post-exercise recovery period in young adults. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two male CK athletes volunteered (28.2 ± 6.7 years; 77.0 ± 5.7 kg; and 176.0 ± 4.7 cm) and underwent one CK session (50 minutes) and a control session in which no exercise was performed and the individuals remain seated during the whole time. BP was measured during rest (before sessions), as well as on the 15th, 30th, 45th, and 60th minutes of the post-exercise recovery. RESULTS: The systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were significantly lower at the post-exercise period compared to pre-exercise rest (P < 0.05), with the largest reductions being observed at the 60th minutes of recovery [SBP (rest: 125.9 ± 4.7 vs. 60th minutes of recovery: 111.7 ± 5.4 mmHg); DBP (rest: 78.8 ± .7 vs. 60th minutes of recovery: 69.8 ± 2.7 mmHg)] and at the same periods of post-exercise recovery of the control session. CONCLUSIONS: A single CK session can promote a decrease in BP for at least 60 minutes after performing this type of exercise in young adults.
RESUMO
The purpose of this study was to compare the physiological responses [oxygen uptake (VO(2)), heart rate (HR) and blood lactate concentrations ([BLa])] and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) response until exhaustion (TTE) at the continuous (CP(c)) and intermittent (CP(i)) critical power workloads. Ten moderately active men (25.5 ± 4.2 years, 74.1 ± 8.0 kg, 177.6 ± 4.9 cm) participated in this study. The incremental test was applied to determine the highest values of oxygen uptake (VO(2max)), heart rate (HR(max)), blood lactate concentrations ([BLa(max)]), and maximal aerobic power (MAP). Continuous and intermittent exhaustive predictive trials were performed randomly. The hyperbolic relation between power and time was used to estimate CP(c) and CP(i). CP(i) was derived from predictive trial results at an effort and recovery ratio of 30:30 s. Exercise at CP(c) and CP(i) as well as the physiological and RPE responses were measured until exhaustion. The values of physiological variables during CP(c) and CP(i) did not differ in either TTE test and were lower than the VO(2max), HR(max) and [BLa(max)] values. RPE was maximal at the end of exercise at CP(c) and CP(i). There was a high correlation between VO(2max) (L min(-1)) and CP(c) and CP(i) intensities (r ≥ 0.90) and between MAP, CP(c) and CP(i) (r ≥ 0.95). Similar physiological and RPE responses were found at CP(c) and CP(i) for the times analyzed.
