The Effects of Swimming on Elderly Women With Stage-2 Hypertension

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
Aging is associated with progressive decreases in arterial health and function as well as overall fitness. It is crucial to prevent or reduce the negative effects of aging on the vasculature and fitness components by implementing appropriate lifestyle interventions, such as exercise training. We examined the effects of a swimming (SWM) regimen on arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity, PWV), blood pressure (BP), wave reflection (AIx), muscle strength and aerobic capacity in elderly women with stage 2 hypertension.

Detailed Description
-----------------
Using a parallel experimental design, participants were randomly assigned to either SWM (n=52) or non-exercising control group (n=48) for 20 weeks. Participant in the SWM group trained 3-4 days/week, progressing in duration from 25 to 45 min. Participants' carotid to radial PWV (crPWV), systolic and diastolic BP, AIx, strength and VO2max were measured at baseline and after 20 weeks of their assigned intervention.

Official Title
-----------------
The Effects of Swimming Training on Arterial Function, Strength and Cardiorespiratory Capacity in Elderly Women With Stage 2 Hypertension

Conditions
-----------------
Menopause, Hypertension

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Behavioral: Swimming


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: systolic/diastolic BP: 140-179 over 90-119 mm Hg had experienced the absence of menstruation for at least 1 year body mass index <30 kg/m2 <1 h of regular exercise per week in the previous year Exclusion Criteria: Smoker Taking any medications or hormone therapy in previous year

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 65 Years
Maximum Age: 85 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
No

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Swimming<br>Participants performed SWM training (combination of free style, breast stroke, and backstroke) for 20 weeks. For the first 5 weeks subjects swam 25-30 minutes/day, 3-4 days/week at  60% of maximal heart rate. As their overall level of fitness and exercise skill improved, the intensity and duration of exercise increased to 40-45 minutes/day, 3-4 days/week at an intensity of 70-75% of the HRmax. Target HR was adjusted based on the observation that maximal heart rate during SWM is approximately 12 beats/min lower than that during running. Each subject was instructed to swim continuously except during the time needed for checking a target heart rate | Behavioral: Swimming<br>* This group completed 20-weeks of swimming<br>|
| No Intervention: Control<br>Participants in the non-exercising control group did not participate in a supervised exercise program and visited the laboratory at the same frequency as participants in the swim intervention and underwent recreational activities such as board games | |

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arterial Stiffness | via Pulse Wave Velocity | 20-weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Systolic Blood Pressure | systolic blood pressure | 20-weeks | 
| Pressure Wave Reflection | via Augmentation Index | 20-weeks | 
| Muscular Strength | via Hand Grip Dynamometer | 20-weeks | 
| Cardiorespiratory Endurance (Volume of Maximal Oxygen Consumption) | via Cornell Modified Bruce treadmill volume of oxygen consumption maximum (VO2max) test | 20-weeks | 
| Diastolic Blood Pressure |  | 20 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
Swimming, Arterial Stiffness, Blood Pressure, Muscular Strength, Cardiorespiratory Endurance