Blood pressure, heart rate, and rate pressure product behavior during interval and continuous aerobic exercise

The purpose of the present study was to compare the blood pressure, heart rate, and rate pressure product behavior during interval and continuous aerobic exercise in physically active women. Eight physically active women with prior indoor cycling experience were recruited for the present study. Participants visited the laboratory for three sessions, the first visit was used for familiarization and the remaining two visits were to perform the experimental protocols in a randomized order: 1)Twenty-one minutes of continuous indoor cycling at 70% of maximum heart rate (CONT), and 2)Twenty one minutes of interval indoor cycling, alternating one minute at 90% and two minutes at 60% of maximum heart rate (INT).To assess the hemodynamic behavior, blood pressure, heart rate, and rate pressure product were also measuring at 6-minute (During 6), 12 minute (During 12), 18-minute (During 18), and 21 minute (During 21) intervals. Both protocols (continuous and interval) showed significant increases in blood pressure, heart rate, and rate pressure product in three out of four moments (During 6, During-12, and During-21), with the interval protocol showing higher values compared to the continuous protocol.The results of this study have practical implications for both prescription and cardiac rehabilitation and may be used in an athletic and non-athletic population, since a hypotension effect and lower cardiac workload is advantageous to one's fitness.