WALKING/RUNNING OR A RECREATIVE SOCCER GAME PRESENTS SIMILAR EFFECTIVENESS IN INDUCING POST-EXERCISE HYPOTENSION

Introduction: Aerobic exercises are the most investigated and recommended for the promotion of blood pressure reduction. However, is not yet clear how acyclical modalities (volleyball, soccer and others) may promote the post-exercise hypotension (PEH). Objective: To compare the acute pressoric response of a soccer match with a walking/running session in recreational soccer practices. Method: Eight normotensive (59.7 +/- 5 years) and eight hypertensive subjects (57.3 +/- 7 years) had blood pressure (BP) monitored before the exercise sessions and during 30 minutes of recovery time. Results: Soccer and walking/running promoted reduction of systolic BP of -13.8 +/- 11 and -6.8 +/- 9 mmHg respectively among the hypertensive, and -13.3 +/- 6 and -5.8 +/- 7 mmHg among the normotensive individuals. Diastolic BP was reduced to -8.8 +/- 5 and -2.8 +/- 4.8 mmHg for hypertensives, and -6.5 +/- 5 and -4.4 +/- 2 mmHg for normotensives. There were no significant differences between soccer and walking/running. Conclusion: Recreational soccer presents the same efficacy in promoting PEH as walking/running.