EFEITOS AGUDOS DO TREINAMENTO DE SPRINTS SUPERCURTOS EM PACIENTES COM HIPERTENSÃO ARTERIAL

Abstract

Physical exercise has been widely recognized for its effectiveness in improving health and promoting quality of life for its practitioners, making it a low-cost, non-pharmacological treatment option with an impact on various aspects of an individual's life. More recently, the literature has been studying the effects of Sprint Interval Training (SIT), a variant of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), in the treatment of various diseases. There is evidence of positive physiological adaptations in less time, but little is currently known about the safety of this protocol for the cardiovascular system of individuals diagnosed with hypertension and pre-hypertension. Objective: The research aims to investigate the effects of short sprint high-intensity training (short Sprint Interval Training, sSIT) in people with hypertension and pre-hypertension, seeking physiological markers that could guide a new methodology for non-pharmacological treatment or control in individuals with hypertension. Method: The sample consisted of 10 men aged 20–65 years with a clinical diagnosis of grade I hypertension or pre-hypertension. The volunteers underwent laboratory and clinical examinations (blood test, resting ECG, and exercise stress test on a cycle ergometer). They performed 2 sSIT sessions, including a 2-minute warm-up at 25 W, 10 sprints of 5 seconds at 80% of the maximum intensity obtained in the stress test, with active recovery intervals of 55 seconds at 25 W, followed by 2 minutes of active recovery at 25 W. Data collected during and after each sprint included heart rate, blood pressure, subjective perception of effort, and affective valence, in addition to lactate levels before and at the end of the protocol. Results: Indicate significant increases in heart rate (FC), systolic blood pressure (PAS), diastolic blood pressure (PAD), and double product (DP) during the application of an sSIT protocol, with more pronounced responses in hypertensives, suggesting greater cardiovascular stress but within safe limits. They suggest good adaptation of hypertensives to high-intensity exercise, meaning that sSIT can be used by individuals with grade I hypertension under supervision. The findings demonstrate that the exercise protocol elevated lactate levels post-exercise, with similar responses between normotensives and hypertensives, suggesting greater perceived effort and physical discomfort in both groups.