Research Outputs
Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Blood Pressure Levels in Hypertensive Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to (I) evaluate the evidence on the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in hypertensive patients; (II) determine whether HIIT impacts SBP and DBP differently; and (III) assess the clinical relevance of these effects. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple electronic databases, resulting in the inclusion of seven randomized clinical trials in the meta-analysis. The outcomes were analyzed using random-effects models to compute mean differences (MD) and standardized mean differences (SMD) for SBP and DBP. Results: A small reduction in SBP was observed with HIIT interventions (MD −3.00; 95% CI −4.61 to −1.39; p < 0.0001; SMD −0.28; 95% CI −0.42 to −0.13; p = 0.0003). However, no statistically significant reductions were detected for DBP (MD −0.70; 95% CI −1.80 to 0.39; p = 0.21; SMD −0.07; 95% CI −0.22 to 0.08; p = 0.35). Despite demonstrating statistical significance for SBP, the effects did not reach clinical relevance. Conclusions: HIIT interventions yield small reductions in SBP, with minimal impact on DBP. These findings suggest limited clinical relevance in the management of hypertension. Further randomized controlled trials are necessary to standardize HIIT protocols, with specific emphasis on intensity control and manipulation, to better understand their potential role in hypertensive populations.
Test–Retest Reliability of an Isometric and Isometric/Vibratory Muscular Strength Protocol with Functional Electro-Mechanical Dynamometry
The purpose of the study was to analyze the test–retest reliability of an isometric and isometric/vibratory muscular strength protocol in the bilateral seated bench press (BSBP), bilateral seated rowing (BSR), unilateral seated right knee extension (USKER), and left knee extension (USKEL) tests controlled using functional electromechanical dynamometry (FEMD) in healthy young adults. A repeated measures design was used to determine the reliability of a muscular strength protocol in isometric and isometric vibration modes with FEMD. No significant differences were found in test–retest analysis (p > 0.05; ES < 0.20); and high reliability (CV = 4.65–5.02%; ICC = 0.99–0.98) was found for BSBP measures, and acceptable reliability (CV = 3.71–9.61%; ICC = 0.98–0.95) was found for BSR, USKER, and USKEL. Furthermore, the coefficients between the two measures were strong (r = 0.963–0.839) and highly significant (p = 0.001) for maximal strength in the isometric and maximal isometric/vibratory assessment of muscle strength in all muscle strength tests. This study demonstrates that isometric and maximal isometric/vibratory strength in the BSBP, BSR, USKER, and USKEL tests can be measured with high reliability and reproducibility using the FEMD.