Aerobic exercise is frequently recommended as a stress
management strategy. This study examined the influence of
30 minutes of aerobic exercise in reducing cardiovascular
reactivity to a subsequent stressor compared to a nonexercise
attention control condition in 16 males (m age = 21
yrs; moderate activity level; positive family history for
hypertension) using a within subject design. The order of
experimental conditions was counterbalanced across subjects.
During the exercise condition, subjects pedaled for 30
minutes on a bicycle ergometer at 59% ± 7.2 of their maximum
(m V02= 48.5 ml/kg/min ± 10.7). subjects completed a
physical activity questionnaire and anthropometric
measurements during the 30 minute attention control
condition. Forty-five minutes after the exercise or
attention control sessions, BP, HR, stroke volume (SV) and
total peripheral resistance (TPR) were measured at baseline,
during a pre-stressor anticipation period, and during the
cold pressor test. stroke volume was measured with
impedance cardiography and total peripheral resistance
(TPR) was estimated. SBP was significantly lower during the
second minute of the anticipation period (F [1,29] = 4.75, p
= .04) forty-five minutes after exercising compared to the
attention control condition. There were no significant
differences between conditions for DBP, TPR or SV. These
findings suggest that acute aerobic exercise may moderate
SBP response to a subsequent non-exercise stressor.
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