ABC | Volume 115, Nº1, July 2020

Original Article Perrier-Melo et al. Post-Exercise Hypotension: Interval Vs. Continuous Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; 115(1):5-14 reductions in systolic and diastolic BP observed in CE (-4.9 and -3.2mmHg, respectively). Therefore, high-intensity stimuli seem to have a role in the magnitude of PEH, regardless of whether or not there was volume, and/or mean intensity and / or total energy expenditure equalization. The mechanisms through which PEH occurs after a CE session arewell documented. 13,16,43,44 The reduction in peripheral vascular resistance has often been attributed as one of the main mechanisms of acute post-exercise BP reduction, 45 which is aided by the reduction of sympathetic activity in the vessel due to baroreflex control, which generates prolonged vasodilation. 46,47 Additionally, local vasodilators, such as prostaglandins and nitric oxide, also play an important role in the occurrence of PEH. 48,49 In patients with vascular disorders (e.g., the elderly, peripheral arterial disease, and obese individuals), PEH occurs by reducing the stroke volume, due to a decreased preload, which is not compensated by increased heart rate. 26,45,50 The studies that directly compared the acute effects of CE and IE on BP showed that the mechanisms related to PEH between these exercise models seem to be different. 26,30,32,34 In normotensive individuals, Rossowet al. 26 observed a greater reduction in peripheral vascular resistance and an increase in cardiac output (mediated by an increase in heart rate) after the IE protocol, when compared to the CE. In pre-hypertensive men, Lacombe et al. 32 demonstrated that IE resulted in greater changes in baroreflex sensitivity and heart rate variability than CE in the post-exercise period.Morales-Palomo et al. 34 observed, in individuals with metabolic syndrome (normotensive and hypertensive), greater reductions in stroke volume, peripheral vascular resistance, skin vascular resistance, higher blood flow in the skin and greater increases in heart rate after IE, when compared to CE. In middle-aged and elderly hypertensive Figure 2 - Forest plot of the comparison of the effects of interval exercise (IE) vs. continuous exercise (CE) on systolic (panel A) and diastolic (panel B) blood pressure (BP). Results are expressed in delta change (post-exercise blood pressure values - pre-exercise blood pressure values). 11