For individuals who exercise, regardless of age, it is
reasonable to assume that at some point, periods of training
cessation or inactivity will occur. Among all age groups,
older individuals have a higher propensity for training disruptions
due to planned or unplanned factors, ranging from
illness to vacations.14
It has been shown that muscular strength in older
subjects can be maintained above baseline levels for
12–48 weeks of detraining following an RT program, while
systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) can be
maintained below baseline levels following four weeks of
detraining in hypertensive middle-aged men.15,16 Although
there is evidence that the sustained effect of exercise on
strength can be maintained for an extended period after
training cessation, to the best of our knowledge, only one
preview study verified the effect of training cessation on
blood pressure. Additionally, no studies to date have examined
the chronic effects of RT on blood pressure (BP) and
muscular strength following a detraining period in elderly
sedentary hypertensive women.14–17
Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate
what effect a 14-week moderate intensity RT program
would have on BP and muscular strength during an extended
detraining period in elderly hypertensive sedentary women.
The initial hypothesis was that BP and muscular strength
would improve in response to RT and these beneficial effects
would be sustained during the detraining period.
mortality.