Respiratory gymnastics, an opportunity for the exercise capacity optimization in people with essential hypertension

Background. A respiratory gymnastics program introduced in subjects with essential arterial hypertension is assumed to improve their cardiorespiratory parameters. Also, respiratory gymnastics could increase the exercise capacity of hypertensive persons. Aims. Designing a respiratory gymnastics program applied to subjects with essential arterial hypertension, which can improve their blood pressure, heart rate and breathing and ultimately, increase maximal exercise capacity. Methods. This application type study, performed between September 2012 October 2012 on a number of 6 subjects diagnosed with essential arterial hypertension, is based on the experiment and case study methods. Results. From the results obtained, it appears that thoracic elasticity increased slightly in all patients (average 0.6 cm). Comparing the initial and final values of functional parameters measured at rest showed sensitive decreases. The results of exercise testing specific to each subject showed a slightly higher exercise capacity. In all subjects who performed the 6-minute walk test, the covered distance increased on average by 26 meters ± 12 after 4 weeks of respiratory gymnastics. Conclusions. The values of the anthropometric and functional parameters obtained after 4 weeks of performing the respiratory gymnastics program highlighted the importance of respiratory gymnastics for the cardiorespiratory recovery of hypertensive subjects.