STATE ANXIETY AND BLOOD-PRESSURE FOLLOWING 30 MIN OF LEG ERGOMETRY ORWEIGHT TRAINING

The effect of different modes of acute exercise on state anxiety and b lood pressure was examined. Collegiate varsity athletes (11 females an d 15 males) completed 30-min sessions of leg cycle ergometry or weight training in a randomized order on separate days. Both exercise modes were performed within 70-80% of the maximum capacity of each subject. State anxiety, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure were measured at baseline prior to exercise, immediately post-exercise, 20 min and 60 min following exercise. Repeated-measures ANOVA detected si gnificant (P < 0.05) trial by condition effects for state anxiety and SBP. State anxiety increased (P < 0.001) immediately following weight training but returned to baseline for the remaining assessments. State anxiety decreased (P < 0.05) below baseline at 60 min following ergom etry. SBP did not decrease following weight training but was reduced ( P < 0.05) by 6.5 mm Hg below baseline at 60 min following ergometry. D BP did not change following either exercise mode. In summary, state an xiety and blood pressure responses to acute physical activity appear t o be dependent on the exercise mode, with reductions in state anxiety and systolic blood pressure being associated with ergometry but not we ight training.