High-Intensity Intermittent Swimming Improves Cardiovascular Health Status for Women with Mild Hypertension

To test the hypothesis that high-intensity swim training improves cardiovascular health status in sedentary premenopausal women with mild hypertension, sixty-two women were randomized into high-intensity (n = 21; HIT), moderate-intensity (n = 21; MOD), and control groups (n = 20; CON). HIT performed 6-10 x 30 s all-out swimming interspersed by 2 min recovery and MOD swam continuously for 1 h at moderate intensity for a 15-week period completing in total 44+/-1 and 43+/-1 sessions, respectively. In CON, all measured variables were similar before and after the intervention period. Systolic BP decreased (P < 0.05) by 6+/-1 and 4+/-1 mm Hg in HIT and MOD; respectively. Resting heart rate declined (P < 0.05) by 5 +/- 1 bpm both in HIT and MOD, fat mass decreased (P < 0.05) by 1.1 +/- 0.2 and 2.2 +/- 0.3 kg, respectively, while the blood lipid profile was unaltered. In HIT and MOD, performance improved (P < 0.05) for a maximal 10 min swim (13 +/- 3% and 22 +/- 3%), interval swimming (23 +/- 3% and 8 +/- 3%), and Yo-Yo IE1 running performance (58 +/- 5% and 45 +/- 4%). In conclusion, high-intensity intermittent swimming is an effective training strategy to improve cardiovascular health and physical performance in sedentary women with mild hypertension. Adaptations are similar with high-and moderate-intensity training, despite markedly less total time spent and distance covered in the high-intensity group.