STATIC STRETCH PERFORMED AFTER STRENGTH TRAINING SESSION INDUCES HYPOTENSIVE RESPONSE IN TRAINED MEN ANTO ˆ NIO C. SOUSA, 1 THIAGO M. GOMES, 2,3 MOISE ´ S S. SOUSA, 4 ALAM R. SARAIVA, 1 GLEISSON S. ARAUJO, 2 TIAGO FIGUEIREDO, 3 AND JEFFERSON S. NOVAES 2,5 1 FederalInstitute of Science and Technology of Para´,Bele´m, Brazil; 2 School of Physical Education and Sports, Rio de Janeiro Federal Univesity, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; 3 Exercise Physiology Laboratory (LAFIEX), Esta´cio de Sa´University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; 4 Academic Sport Department, Para´State University, Bele´m do Para´, Brazil; and 5 Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil ABSTRACT Sousa, AC, Gomes, TM, Sousa, MS, Saraiva, AR, Araujo, GS, Figueiredo, T, and Novaes, JS. Static stretch performed after strength training session induces hypotensive response in trained men. J Strength Cond Res 33(11): 2981–2990, 2019—The purpose of this study was to compare the acute effect of 3 different combinations between passive static stretching exercises (SE) with resistance training (RT) on blood pressure (BP) response in normotensive trained men. Twenty- six volunteer subjects (age: 26.1 6 5.4 years; body mass: 86.5 6 10.5 kg; height: 1.78 6 0.6 cm) participated in this study. After assessing 10 repetition maximum loads for the bench press, lat pulldown, shoulder press, leg press, leg extension, and leg curl, the subjects were randomly assigned on 3 exper- imental conditions: (a) static SE were performed before the RT session (SE + RT); (b) static SE were performed after the RT session (RT + SE); and (c) static SE were performed between the RT session (RTSE). The BP was measured for 60 minutes after the RT session. The 2-way analysis of variance for repeated measures showed no significant difference (p . 0.05) between the experimental conditions. In within compar- isons, only the RT + SE experimental condition did not cause significant increases (p = 0.07) on systolic blood pressure (SBP) when compared the baseline and post-test moments (132.2 6 10.7 vs. 141.3 6 18.1 mm Hg). In addition, hypo- tensive effects were found in SBP only in the RT + SE exper- imental condition when compared SBP baseline (132.2 6 10.7 mm Hg) vs. SBP30 minutes (121.7 6 11.8 mm Hg; p = 0.04), SBP45 minutes (120.6 6 9.8 mm Hg; p = 0.03), and SBP60 minutes (120.0 6 7.9 mm Hg; p = 0.00). These find- ings suggest that performing static SE after the RT session provide an ideal combination for a postexercise hypotensive response from 30 minutes after exercise (and this change was enhanced up to 60 minutes). In conclusion, strength and conditioning professionals can prescribe static SE after RT if the goal is to reduce blood pressure after training. KEY WORDS resistance exercises, stretching exercises, hypotension, blood pressure INTRODUCTION M uscular strength and flexibility are compo- nents of physical fitness that promote several health benefits and are important components in a supervised exercise program. For that, some training variables such as the total volume and load intensity should be controlled in resistance training (RT) and flexibility training (FT). A sudden increase in blood pressure (BP) during exercise training can be an early sign by severe cardiovascular disease. Despite this, physical exercise is a rel- evant nonpharmacologic option for the prevention and treat- ment of BP disorders. In addition, RT can be an important strategy to complement an aerobic training, such as walking or running. So, understanding the physiological responses and hemodynamic fluctuations to these exercises types are fundamental for orientation and training prescription of both components for healthy and in-treatment individuals (10,15,17,19). The RT session promotes an acute increase in BP as a result of an increased metabolic demand at the exercise time (12,24). However, systolic blood pressure (SBP), dia- stolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) return to baseline values in a few seconds after the RT session and can be reduced to values below those re- corded at rest, a phenomenon called postexercise hypoten- sion (PEH), which is important to prevent and treat Address correspondence to Thiago M. Gomes, thiago.matassoli@ estacio.br. 33(11)/2981–2990 Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research Ó 2019 National Strength and Conditioning Association VOLUME 33 | NUMBER 11 | NOVEMBER 2019 | 2981 Copyright © 2019 National Strength and Conditioning Association. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.