Mat Pilates training reduced clinical and ambulatory blood pressure in hypertensive women using antihypertensive medications

BackgroundPhysical exercise has been used in the treatment of hypertension. However, there are few methods researched and shown beneficial for treatment of hypertension. The objective was to evaluate the effect of Mat Pilates training (MP) on blood pressure (BP) of hypertensive women medicated with antihypertensive drugs.Methods44 hypertensive women (50.5 ± 6.3 years age), treated with medication for blood pressure and, uninvolved in structured exercise program were distributed into two groups: Training Group (TG) and Control Group (CG). TG performed 60-minute sessions of MP, twice a week for 16 weeks. CG was requested to maintain daily activities without exercise training. The following variables were evaluated during the pre- and post-experimental periods: clinical and ambulatory BP, heart rate (HR) and double product (DP), besides body mass, height, body mass index, waist and hip circumferences, flexibility, and right and left hand strengths.ResultsTG showed statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) within and between-groups for the systolic, diastolic and mean BP in all moments evaluated (clinical, 24 h, awake and asleep). Besides that, TG showed improvements in height, waist and hip circumferences, flexibility, right and left hand strengths and clinical DP. The other variables in TG, as well as all variables in the CG didn't show significant changes.ConclusionIn hypertensive women using antihypertensive medications, MP reduces clinical and ambulatory BP. These results support the recommendation of MP as a non-drug treatment for hypertension.