Effect of Recreational Exercise on Blood Pressure and Ankle-Brachial Index Test of a Group of Women

Reis CBF, Sena C, Dutra-Macedo SR, Vieira ASM, Moraes L, Silva-Filho AC, Dias CJ, Mostarda CT, Bruzaca R, Leite RD. Effect of Recreational Exercise on Blood Pressure and Ankle-Brachial Index Test of a Group of Women. JEPonline 2018;21(2):172-181. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of changes in ankle-brachial index (ABI) in active and sedentary women. The subjects consisted of 24 women aged between 34 to 68 yrs. They were divided into the Active Group (AG) and the Sedentary Group (SG) based on their response to the Physical Activity Level Questionnaire (IPAQ). A significant difference (P=0.0007) was found between the group of sedentary women with an ABI of 0.90 [+ or -] 0.16 and the group of active women with an ABI of 1.13 [+ or -] 0.10. We conclude that active women present normal ABI measurements even when they are age compatible with the development of vascular disease, in relation to sedentary women who are at a higher risk of developing peripheral artery disease. Key Words: Ankle Brachial Index, Blood Pressure, PAD