Power exercises with elastic bands combined with endurance training improve pulse pressure, systolic blood pressure, and functional parameters in older adults

Luiz Filipe Costa Chaves; Bruno Bavaresco Gambassi; Eduardo Cadore; Samir Sotão; Thiago Matheus Sousa; Danielle da Silva Dias; Paulo Adriano Schwingel; Cristiano Mostarda

doi:10.1097/MBP.0000000000000733

Power exercises with elastic bands combined with endurance training improve pulse pressure, systolic blood pressure, and functional parameters in older adults

Blood Press Monit. 2024 Nov 8. doi: 10.1097/MBP.0000000000000733. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Luiz Filipe Costa Chaves^{1

2

3}, Bruno Bavaresco Gambassi^{1

2

4

5

6}, Eduardo Cadore^{5

7}, Samir Sotão^{1

2}, Thiago Matheus Sousa^{1

2

3}, Danielle da Silva Dias², Paulo Adriano Schwingel⁶, Cristiano Mostarda^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Education, Ceuma University.
² Postgraduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Maranhão.
³ Cardiovascular Adaptations to Exercise Laboratory (LACORE), Federal University of Maranhão.
⁴ Postgraduate Program in Programs Management and Health Services, Ceuma University, São Luís, Brazil.
⁵ Interuniversity Network for Healthy Aging, Latin America and the Caribbean, Talca, Maule, Chile.
⁶ Human Performance Research Laboratory, University of Pernambuco, Petrolina.
⁷ Exercise Research Laboratory, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.

PMID: 39568424
DOI: 10.1097/MBP.0000000000000733

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of power training (PT) using elastic bands combined with endurance training (ET) on pulse pressure (PP), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressures (DBP), autonomic response (AR), and functional parameters in older adults.

Methods: Thirty participants were randomly assigned to the control group ( n = 15) and the intervention group (IG) ( n = 15). IG participants performed PT with elastic bands combined with ET twice weekly for 8 weeks. PP, SBP, DBP, AR, and functional parameters were assessed before and after 8 weeks.

Results: PP, SBP, and functional parameters significantly improved after 8 weeks in the IG ( P < 0.05). The study also found a clinically significant reduction in the SBP (Δ = -16.5 mmHg; η2p = 0.36) and DBP (Δ = -4.3 mmHg; η2p = 0.26), and a clinical reduction in the 5-Repetition Sit-To-Stand test ( η2p = 0.63) and the elbow flexion test ( η2p = 0.51).

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that PT with elastic bands combined with ET improves PP, SBP, and functional parameters in older adults. Hence, our combined training protocol can be an easily accessible, low-cost, nonpharmacological strategy for strength, and conditioning professionals to prescribe as an exercise intervention to older adults.