A Comparison of the Effects of General Aerobic Exercise and Brisk Walking/Running on Blood Pressure in Older Adults Without Underlying Diseases

This quasi-experimental study compared the effects of general aerobic exercise and brisk walking/running on blood pressure in 20 older adults aged 55 and above, all free from underlying diseases or medication use. Participants were evenly divided into two groups: one performed general aerobic movements (e.g., low-impact group exercise) and the other engaged in brisk walking/running, both for 30 minutes each morning, five days a week, over an 8-week period. Blood pressure was measured before and after the intervention. Both groups showed significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p<0.05), but the brisk walking/running group experienced greater average reductions (−9.2 mmHg systolic, −6.1 mmHg diastolic) compared to the general aerobic group (−7.3 mmHg systolic, −4.8 mmHg diastolic). The study concludes that while both exercise types are effective, brisk walking or running may be more beneficial for lowering blood pressure in healthy older adults.