COMPARING EFFECT OF WALKING AND SELECTED AEROBIC EXERCISE ON BLOOD PRESSURE IN OVERWEIGHT POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Regarding the importance of physical activity in preventing blood pressure
disease, this study was done with the goal of comparing walking and selected aerobic exercise on
blood pressure in inactive postmenopausal women (age=56.61±5.88).
Materials and Methods: In this study, 45 healthy overweight postmenopausal women were randomly
divided into 3 groups of 15; selected aerobic training, walking and control. First, the heart rate was
measured (80.47±15.04), then maximal oxygen consumption (22.65±1.46) and the body dimensions,
including body mass index (28.74±1.78), and then systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were
studied. Time and intensity of exercise were identical for two groups. Increasing intensity of 50-70%
of maximum heart rate was in 12 weeks, 30 to 90 minutes, and 5 times a week (30 minutes at 50%
MHR intensity for the first week and 90 minutes of 70 percent MHR in the last week). After the
training period, systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were measured again and the data were
analyzed with the dependent T-test, MANOVA and TUKY follow-up test.
Results: The results indicate that differences between exercise and control groups were significant.
Accordingly, the results of walking and selected aerobic exercise had significant effects on reducing
systolic and diastolic mean blood pressure, and there was significant difference in systolic blood
pressure values between two groups after 12 weeks. As the walking group showed higher mean.
Conclusion: This study showed that aerobic exercise, either walking or in the form of selected aerobic
exercise causes decrease in the mean of systolic and diastolic blood pressure in postmenopausal
women, among which walking indicates greater effectiveness