Strength Training for Hypertensive Patients: A Strategy to Maximise the Hypotensive Effect of Exercise

Systemic Arterial Hypertension (SAH) is a multifactorial clinical condition characterised by sustained elevation of blood pressure levels greater than or equal to 140 and/or 90 mmHg. It is usually associated with metabolic disorders, functional and structural alterations of some target organs (heart, kidneys, brain and blood vessels), and is aggravated by the presence of some diseases, such as obesity, dyslipidaemias, diabetes, among others. Physical exercise (PE), which is a form of non-drug treatment, has been shown to be an effective way of combating this pathology, consisting of lifestyle changes and weight control. Strength training (ST) has been one of the options in PE programmes due to the accumulation of studies proving the benefits and safety of its application in patients with SAH, generating a hypotensive effect after PE. However, in order for PE to provide the desired benefits, care must be taken to ensure that the exercise does not generate a high cardiovascular overload. Therefore, the presence of a Physical Education professional specialising in the area is essential, as they have specific knowledge and will know how to modify the variables during training.