Responses of the African hypertensive to exercise training: preliminary observations.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of exercise on blood pressure in hypertension. Ten hypertensives served as study subjects, and ten as controls. The study subjects (mean age 55.7 years) exercised for 42 minutes, three times a week for 12 weeks. The training intensity was 60-70% of heart rate reserve. Controls (mean age 57.2 years) were not subjected to exercise training. Blood pressure was measured at rest and during submaximal exercise test on the bicycle ergometer. The exercise heart rate of the study subjects was significantly reduced after exercise training. There were small but significant reductions in resting and exercise systolic blood pressure and exercise diastolic blood pressure of the study group following the exercise training. There was no significant change in the resting and exercise blood pressure of the control group. The significant blood pressure reductions in the study group were attributed to the exercise training programme. The response of the African hypertensive is similar to those reported in other racial groups, notably Caucasians.