Aerobic exercise significantly reduced resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive adults by -6 mm Hg (95% CI -8 to -3) and -5 mm Hg (95% CI -7 to -3), respectively.
Meta-Analysis (n=2,543)
Effect estimate: Mean difference -6 mm Hg (systolic) and -5 mm Hg (diastolic) in hypertensives (95% CI -8 to -3 (systolic), -7 to -3 (diastolic))
p-value: p=0.008 (systolic), 0.000 (diastolic)
In this study the authors used the meta-analytic approach to examine the effects of aerobic exercise on resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure in adults. Forty-seven clinical trials representing a total of 72 effect sizes in 2543 subjects (1653 exercise, 890 control) met the criteria for inclusion. Statistically significant exercise-minus-control decreases were found for changes in resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure in both hypertensive (systolic, -6 mm Hg, 95% CI, -8 to -3; diastolic, -5 mm Hg, 95% CI, -7 to -3) and normotensive (systolic, -2 mm Hg, 95% CI, -3 to -1; diastolic, -1 mm Hg, 95% CI, -2 to -1) groups. The differences between groups were statistically significant (systolic, p=0.008; diastolic, p=0.000). Relative decreases were approximately 4% (systolic) and 5% (diastolic) in hypertensives, and 2% (systolic) and 1% (diastolic) in normotensives. It was concluded that aerobic exercise reduces resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure in adults. (c) 2001 by CHF, Inc.
Kelley et al. (Sun,) conducted a meta-analysis in Hypertension and normotension (n=2,543). Aerobic exercise vs. Control was evaluated on Changes in resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure (Mean difference -6 mm Hg (systolic) and -5 mm Hg (diastolic) in hypertensives, 95% CI -8 to -3 (systolic), -7 to -3 (diastolic), p=0.008 (systolic), 0.000 (diastolic)). Aerobic exercise significantly reduced resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive adults by -6 mm Hg (95% CI -8 to -3) and -5 mm Hg (95% CI -7 to -3), respectively.