Fisiologia Del Ejercicio

Review Article

High-intensity interval training and hypertension:

maximizing the benefits of exercise?

Emmanuel Gomes Ciolac1,2

1Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Institute of Orthopedics and

Traumatology, Laboratory of Kinesiology, Sao Paulo, Brazil; 2Universidade do Grande ABC, Santo André, Brazil

Received February 24, 2012; accepted March 15, 2012; Epub May 15, 2012; Published June 15, 2012

Abstract: Essential arterial hypertension is the most common risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Regular exercise is a well-established intervention for the prevention and treatment of hypertension. Continuous

moderate-intensity exercise training (CMT) that can be sustained for 30 min or more has been traditionally recommended

for hypertension prevention and treatment. On the other hand, several studies have shown that highintensity

interval training (HIT), which consists of several bouts of high-intensity exercise (~85% to 95% of HRMAX and/

or VO2MAX lasting 1 to 4 min interspersed with intervals of rest or active recovery, is superior to CMT for improving

cardiorespiratory fitness, endothelial function and its markers, insulin sensitivity, markers of sympathetic activity and

arterial stiffness in hypertensive and normotensive at high familial risk for hypertension subjects. This compelling

evidence suggesting larger beneficial effects of HIT for several factors involved in the pathophysiology of hypertension

raises the hypothesis that HIT may be more effective for preventing and controlling hypertension.

Keywords: Exercise, hypertension, autonomic nervous system, endothelial function, arterial stiffness

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