Background: The appropriate exercise intensity has been shown to be effective in managing essential hypertension. However, this can be achieved only when an individual is aware of the right volume of the exercise intensity to be undertaken. This study aims to ascertain the effectiveness of aerobic exercises at differing intensities of managing blood pressure in Essential Hypertensive (EHT) Information Technology Officers (ITO). Methods: Forty-five EHT ITO male participants between the age of 35-45 years with a BMI less than 30 Kg m-2 were randomly allotted into three groups (A, B, C) of 15 each. All groups were given four weeks’ aerobic interval training of brisk walking for 45 minutes per day for four times a week using a treadmill. The intensity of the exercise was determined and graded based on the Borg scale Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE), different intensities were assigned to each group; group A low intensity (RPE 11), group B moderate intensity (RPE13), and group C high intensity (RPE15). The pre and post intervention resting blood pressure values of all the three groups were measured and statistically compared. Results: All the three intensities of the aerobic exercises are effective in managing the systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the EHT ITO. However, medium intensity aerobic exercise is found to be highly effective in managing the blood pressure in EHT ITO compared to low and high intensities. Conclusion: The current study suggests to the general public working under various sectors of similar nature with the ITO to follow the appropriate intensity exercise revealed from this study.
Key words: Aerobic exercise, Blood pressure, Borg scale, Essential Hypertension, Information Technology Officers
