The effects of aerobic exercise in hypertensive adults: a meta-analytic review.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aerobic exercise on resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive adults. Thirty-two longitudinal journal training studies, published in English and conducted over the past 25 years, were analyzed using the meta-analytic technique.

Within groups, t-distribution analysis of effect size changes revealed significant differences (p {dollar} less than {dollar}.05) for resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure across all exercise groups and categories. Between groups, one-way analysis of variance revealed no significant difference (p {dollar} less than {dollar}.05) in aerobic exercise-induced effect size blood pressure changes among categories. None of the changes were significant for the control groups.

Significant relationships (r, p {dollar} less than {dollar}.05) existed between aerobic exercise-induced effect size changes on resting blood pressure and changes in body weight and percent fat (systolic only) and initial percent fat levels (systolic and diastolic). Relationships for age, initial weight, or initial blood pressure levels were not significant. In addition, no significant relationships existed between characteristics of training programs and aerobic exercise-related changes in resting blood pressure.

It was concluded that aerobic exercise reduced resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure across all categories of hypertensive adults. In addition, the magnitude of aerobic exercise-induced reductions on resting blood pressure was associated with smaller changes in body weight and higher initial levels of percent fat (systolic only) and larger decreases in percent fat (systolic and diastolic).