RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the acute effect of a t'ai chi chuan session on blood pressure and heart rate in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). DESIGN: Randomized crossover intervention study. SETTING: Outpatient therapy center. PARTICIPANTS: Seven patients with PAD, aged 50-79 years, not using ß-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, or nondihidropiridinic vasodilators. INTERVENTION: T'ai chi chuan and control session (both sessions lasted 40 minutes). OUTCOME MEASURES: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, which were evaluated before and after the intervention (10, 30, and 50 minutes). RESULTS: T'ai chi chuan exercise acutely decreased systolic blood pressure at 30 minutes after exercise (p = 0.042) and increased diastolic blood pressure at 50 minutes after exercise (p = 0.041). Heart rate did not change after t'ai chi chuan exercise. CONCLUSION: T'ai chi chuan acutely decreases systolic blood pressure in patients with PAD.
