The Effects of Moderate Swimming Training on Blood Pressure Risk Factors in Hypertensive Postmenopausal Women

Document Type : Original Article

Abstract

The effects of physical activities such as jogging, running and bicycling on arteriosclerosis risk factors are 
well documented. However, the effect of moderate swimming exercise on arteriosclerosis risk factors and 
particularly oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OX-LDL) has received little attention. It was hypothesized 
that moderate swimming exercise reduces OX-LDL level and others arteriosclerosis risk factors in 
hypertensive postmenopausal women. Thirty-four hypertensive postmenopausal women were randomly 
divided into control and training groups. Swimming training was conducted four times per week for 30 min at 
60-70% of maximum heart rate for eight weeks. Moderate swimming training resulted in a reduction in systolic 
blood pressure (p<0.05) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (p<0.05). No changes were observed in 
vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1), diastolic blood pressure low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
(LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) . A positive correlation was also found between 
OX-LDL and systolic blood pressure (R =0.34, p<0.05) and LDL-C (r = 0.5, p<0.05). In conclusion, moderate 
swimming training may reduce systolic blood pressure and OX-LDL in hypertensive postmenopausal women

Keywords

• Swimming exercise
• hypertension risk factors
• OX-LDL

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