High-intensity exercise training mitigates post-exercise orthostatic hypotension in men

Whether high-intensity exercise training can effectively mitigate orthostatic-induced post-exercise hypotension (PEH) has not been satisfactory resolved to date. We therefore examined whether 2 weeks of high-intensity exercise training can effectively mitigate the orthostatic-induced PEH by conducting comparisons pre- and post-training at the same absolute and relative workloads. Eleven healthy men underwent 2 weeks of high-intensity exercise training within the severe intensity domain (i.e., above critical power) for 15 min per session for 14 daily consecutive sessions. Assessment of orthostatic-induced PEH was conducted at pre- and post-training (both absolute and relative workloads) across seated and standing recovery postures. The exercise intensities for the PEH trials were conducted at 10% above critical power, followed by a 1-h recovery across seated and standing postures. Post-training, PEH assessment was performed at the same absolute and relative power output (i.e., 10% above the post-intervention critical power) as pre-training. Two weeks of high-intensity exercise training significantly increased V˙O_2max, resting ejection fraction, and fractional shortening velocity (all P < 0.01), thereby confirming an increased training status. Consequently, the reduction of systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures from baseline were smaller following 2 weeks of high-intensity exercise training in both absolute and relative workloads during the recovery across seated and standing postures (all P < 0.01). We conclude that 2 weeks of high-intensity exercise training was able to mitigate the orthostatic-induced PEH with both absolute and relative workloads in healthy Asian men.