Influence of population and exercise protocol characteristics on hemodynamic determinants of post-aerobic exercise hypotension

Due to differences in study populations and protocols, the hemodynamic determinantsof post-aerobic exercise hypotension (PAEH) are controversial. This review analyzedthe factors that might influence PAEH hemodynamic determinants, through a search onPubMed using the following key words: “postexercise” or “post-exercise” combined with“hypotension”, “blood pressure”, “cardiac output”, and “peripheral vascularresistance”, and “aerobic exercise” combined only with “blood pressure”. Forty-sevenstudies were selected, and the following characteristics were analyzed: age, gender,training status, body mass index status, blood pressure status, exercise intensity,duration and mode (continuous or interval), time of day, and recovery position. Dataanalysis showed that 1) most postexercise hypotension cases are dueto a reduction in systemic vascular resistance; 2) age, body massindex, and blood pressure status influence postexercise hemodynamics, favoringcardiac output decrease in elderly, overweight, and hypertensive subjects;3) gender and training status do not have an isolated influence;4) exercise duration, intensity, and mode also do not affectpostexercise hemodynamics; 5) time of day might have an influence,but more data are needed; and 6) recovery in the supine positionfacilitates systemic vascular resistance decrease. In conclusion, many factors mayinfluence postexercise hypotension hemodynamics, and future studies should directlyaddress these specific influences because different combinations may explain theobserved variability in postexercise hemodynamic studies.