운동 후 저혈압(post-exercise hypotension: PEH)은 일회성 운동 후 회복기 중에 혈압이 안정 시 수준보다 더 낮은 상태로 지속되는 현상이다. 다양한 연구에서 운동강도에 따른 PEH 반응이 조사되었지만, 운동 중 에너지 소비량을 동질화시켜 영향을 규명한 연구는 다소 부족하였다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 운동 중 에너지 소비량이 동질화된 일회성 유산소운동 강도가 30대 고혈압 전단계 남성의 운동 후 혈압과 심혈관기능에 미치는 영향을 규명하고자 하였다. 유산소운동 강도는 maximal oxygen uptake 70%의 중강도 지속적 운동(moderate-intensity continuous exercise: MICE)과 50%와 90%의 고강도 인터벌 운동(high-intensity interval exercise: HIIE)으로, 처치간 1주일의 wash-out을 두고 counter-balanced order에 따라 각각 30분간 반복 처치 후 회복기 5분, 10분, 15분, 30분, 45분, 그리고 60분 시점의 혈압 변인과 15분, 30분, 45분, 그리고 60분 시점의 심혈관기능 변인을 측정하였다. 본 연구의 주요 결과를 요약하여 기술하면 다음과 같다. 1) Systolic blood pressure는 HIIE 처치에서 안정시와 비교하여 운동 후 회복기 30분과 45분의 시점에서 유의하게 낮았으며, HIIE 처치가 MICE 처치보다 운동 후 회복기 10분, 15분, 그리고 30분의 시점에서 유의하게 낮았다. 2) Mean arterial pressure는 시기의 유의한 주효과가 나타났지만, 안정시와 비교하여 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않았다. 3) Rate pressure product는 MICE와 HIIE 처치 모두에서 안정시와 비교하여 운동 후 회복기 5분, 10분, 15분, 그리고 30분의 시점에서 유의하게 높았으며, HIIE 처치가 MICE 처치보다 운동 후 회복기 15분, 30분, 45분, 그리고 60분의 시점에서 유의하게 높았다. 4) Heart rate는 MICE와 HIIE 처치 모두에서 안정시와 비교하여 운동 후 회복기 15분, 30분, 45분, 그리고 60분의 시점에서 유의하게 높았으며, HIIE 처치가 MICE 처치보다 운동 후 회복기 15분, 30분, 45분, 그리고 60분의 시점에서 유의하게 높았다. 5) Stroke volume은 HIIE 처치가 MICE 처치보다 운동 후 회복기 30분의 시점에서 유의하게 낮았다. 6) Cardiac output은 MICE와 HIIE 처치 모두에서 안정시와 비교하여 운동 후 회복기 15분, 30분, 45분, 그리고 60분의 시점에서 유의하게 높았으며, HIIE 처치가 MICE 처치보다 운동 후 회복기 15분의 시점에서 유의하게 높았다. 7) Total vascular conductance는 MICE와 HIIE 처치 모두에서 안정시와 비교하여 운동 후 회복기 15분, 30분, 45분, 그리고 60분의 시점에서 유의하게 높았으며, HIIE 처치가 MICE 처치보다 운동 후 회복기 15분과 30분의 시점에서 유의하게 높았다. 8) Total peripheral resistance는 MICE와 HIIE 처치 모두에서 안정시와 비교하여 운동 후 회복기 15분, 30분, 45분, 그리고 60분의 시점에서 유의하게 낮았으며, HIIE 처치가 MICE 처치보다 운동 후 회복기 15분과 30분의 시점에서 유의하게 낮았다. 이상의 연구 결과를 종합하면, 운동 중 에너지 소비량이 동질화된 MICE와 HIIE 처치 모두 30대 고혈압 전단계 남성의 PEH 반응과 심혈관기능 개선이 나타났다. 특히 HIIE 처치는 MICE 처치보다 심혈관 스트레스가 높았지만, PEH 반응과 심혈관기능 개선의 유의한 효과가 나타났다. 따라서 30대 고혈압 전단계 남성을 대상으로, HIIE가 MICE보다 혈압 조절과 심혈관기능 개선에 효과적인 방법이라고 결론지을 수 있다. 향후 고혈압 전단계 남성을 대상으로, 운동 후 혈압과 심혈관기능에 대한 장기간의 유산소운동 처치와 운동 중 에너지 소비량이 동질화된 다양한 운동강도에 따른 영향을 규명하는 후속 연구가 요청된다.

A post-exercise hypotension (PEH) response has been reported as a phenomenon in which blood pressure continues to decrease during the recovery period after one-time exercise. Although various studies have investigated the PEH response according to exercise intensity, studies on the effect of same energy consumption during exercise have been somewhat lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of one-time aerobic exercise intensity with same energy expenditure during exercise on post-exercise blood pressure and cardiovascular function in prehypertensive men in their 30s. The intensity of aerobic exercise was moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) with maximal oxygen uptake of 70% and high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) with 50% and 90% maximal oxygen uptake. Treatment was repeated for 30 minutes each in a counter-balanced order with one week wash-out between treatments. Blood pressure variables at 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes of recovery and cardiovascular function variables at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes were measured. The main results of this study are summarized and described as follows. 1) Systolic blood pressure was significantly lower in HIIE treatment at 30 and 45 minutes post-exercise recovery than at rest, and HIIE treatment was significantly lower than MICE treatment at 10, 15, and 30 minutes of recovery after exercise. 2) Mean arterial pressure showed a significant main effect of time, but there was no significant difference compared with that at rest. 3) Rate pressure product was significantly higher at 5, 10, 15, and 30 minutes post-exercise recovery compared to rest in both MICE and HIIE treatment, and HIIE treatment was significantly higher than MICE treatment at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes of recovery after exercise. 4) Heart rate was significantly higher at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes post-exercise recovery than at rest in both MICE and HIIE treatment, and HIIE treatment was significantly higher than MICE treatment at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes of recovery after exercise. 5) Stroke volume was significantly lower in HIIE treatment than in MICE treatment at 30 minutes of recovery after exercise. 6) Cardiac output was significantly higher at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes post-exercise recovery period compared to rest in both MICE and HIIE treatment, and HIIE treatment was significantly higher than MICE treatment at 15 minutes of recovery after exercise. 7) Total vascular conductance was significantly higher at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes post-exercise recovery compared to rest in both MICE and HIIE treatment, and HIIE treatment was significantly higher than MICE treatment at 15 and 30 minutes of recovery after exercise. 8) Total peripheral resistance was significantly lower at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes post-exercise recovery compared to rest in both MICE and HIIE treatment, and HIIE treatment was significantly lower than MICE treatment at 15 and 30 minutes of recovery after exercise. Combining the results of the above study, both MICE and HIIE treatments, in which energy expenditure was equalized during exercise, showed improvement in PEH response and cardiovascular function in men with pre-hypertension in their 30s. In particular, HIIE treatment had a higher cardiovascular stress than MICE treatment, but it showed significant effects on PEH response and cardiovascular function improvement. Therefore, it can be concluded that HIIE is a more effective method for blood pressure control and cardiovascular function improvement than MICE for men in their 30s with pre-hypertensive stage. In the future, a follow-up study is required to investigate the effect of long-term aerobic exercise treatment on post-exercise blood pressure and cardiovascular function in men with pre-hypertensive stage and various exercise intensities in which energy expenditure is equalized during exercise.