Efeito do exercício aquático intervalado nas respostas agudas da glicemia capilar de mulheres pós-menopausadas hipertensas

Abstract

The postmenopausal period is commonly associated with metabolic and cardiovascular alterations, including increased insulin resistance and elevated blood pressure. Regular physical exercise is widely recognized as an effective strategy for the prevention and management of these conditions. However, there remains a scarcity of in-depth research examining the acute effects of specific exercise modalities—such as high-intensity interval aquatic exercise—on capillary blood glucose regulation in vulnerable populations, including postmenopausal hypertensive women. This study aimed to evaluate the acute effects of a high-intensity interval aquatic exercise (HIAE) session on capillary blood glucose levels in postmenopausal women with hypertension, in comparison to a non-exercise control session. A randomized, crossover clinical trial was conducted with 22 postmenopausal women aged 45 to 65 years, all of whom were diagnosed with medicated hypertension and were not engaged in regular physical activity. Each participant completed two sessions: a 24-minute HIAE session and a control session, with a minimum washout period of 48 hours between them. Capillary blood glucose measurements were taken at three time points: pre-session, immediately post-session, and 60 minutes postsession. The findings revealed no statistically significant differences in glycemic responses between the exercise and control sessions over the 60-minute post-intervention period. Nevertheless, both sessions resulted in a reduction in capillary blood glucose levels relative to baseline. In conclusion, a single session of high-intensity interval aquatic exercise does not appear to acutely influence capillary blood glucose levels in postmenopausal hypertensive women when compared to a control condition. However, both conditions were associated with modest reductions in glycemic values. These results underscore the need for future studies with larger sample sizes and extended follow-up to better elucidate the chronic effects of aquatic exercise in this population.