Effects of Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage Associated with Physical Exercise Program in Morphological-Functional Blood Pressure Parameters

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Manual Massage Lymphatic Drainage (MMLD) performed in association with an Aerobic Physical Exercise Program (APEP), in the arterial blood pressure (PSA) values of hypertensive subjects submitted to pharmacological treatment. The population of this study was composed of hypertensive subjects of both sexes and patients from SESI Clinic of the Municipality of Cacoal in Rondônia / RO, with the sample consisting of 28 subjects in the age group from 45 to 60 years and under pharmacological treatment to control hypertension arterial hypertension (SAH). Experimental Group 1 (GE1), composed of 14 individuals of both sexes (Age: 53.57 ± 7.20, Body Weight: 74, 15 ± 15.85, height: 166.1 ± 61), which during 8 weeks were submitted weekly on alternate days, to three MMLD sessions in parallel to a APEP with intensity controlled by the subjective sensation of effort; and b) An Experimental Group 2 (GE2), also composed of 14 subjects of both sexes (Age: 53.57 ± 7.20; Body Weight: 74.15 ± 15.85; Height: 166.1 ± 61); which during 8 weeks were also submitted to three weekly sessions of the same MMLD maneuvers applied in GE1, but were not submitted to PEFA. At the end of the procedures the statistical analysis allowed to observe that the PASS scores presented by GE1 and GE2, both indicated the same statistical significance (p = 0,000), with mean values being reduced by 8.1 mmHg for GE1 and 6,5 mmHg for GE2, representing a functional improvement of 6.3% and 4.9%, respectively. A similar behavior was found when analyzing the values of PASD, which at the end of the experimental procedure presented similar results for both study groups, statistical significance at the level of p< 0,05. Mean values were reduced by 5.5 mmHg for GE1, and 3.8 mmHg for GE2, representing a functional improvement of 6.3% and 4.3%, respectively. It is also observed that the results of the GE1 are higher than those of the GE2, and this can be attributed to the realization of the MMLD in parallel to the APEP, which seems to have potentiated the effects presented by the GE1. The results found in this research suggest that Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage may be a valuable nonpharmacological auxiliary therapy in the control of arterial hypertension, also indicating that when performed in association with a regular program of aerobic physical exercises, it significantly increases the reduction of values blood pressure of hypertensive subjects.