Key result
Inspiratory muscle strength training reduces systolic blood pressure by ~9 mmHg, matching aerobic exercise.
Why the study?
The study evaluated whether inspiratory muscle strength training is an effective, time-efficient alternative to aerobic exercise for reducing and maintaining blood pressure in hypertensive patients.
Does inspiratory muscle strength training reduce blood pressure comparably to aerobic exercise in hypertensive patients?
RCT (n=28)
Single-blind
Simple randomization
No
Does inspiratory muscle strength training reduce blood pressure comparably to aerobic exercise in hypertensive patients?
Effect estimate: Mean difference -2.9 mmHg (95% CI -10.6 to 4.9)
Absolute Event Rate: -9.1% vs -6.2%
p-value: p=0.46
Inspiratory muscle strength training is a time-efficient alternative to aerobic exercise that produces comparable short-term reductions in blood pressure for hypertensive patients, though its effects may not be as well-maintained after detraining.
Supports IMST as time-efficient alternative for BP reduction in hypertension; extends RCT evidence for non-aerobic modalities.
Background: This study evaluated the effectiveness of inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST) as a time-efficient alternative to widely recommended aerobic exercise (AE) for reducing and maintaining blood pressure in hypertensive patients.Methods: Twenty-eight hypertensive patients (aged 61 7 years) were randomly assigned to IMST (n = 14) and AE (n = 14) groups.The IMST performed 30 breaths/session at 75% of maximal inspiratory pressure (PI max ), totaling about 8 minutes, 5 days/week.The AE group exercised at 70% of heart rate reserve for 30 minutes/session, 5 days/week.Both supervised interventions lasted 8 weeks, followed by a 4-week detraining period.Brachial and central systolic blood pressure (SBP) were taken at baseline, 8-week post-intervention, and post-detraining. Results:The mean (standard deviation) change in brachial SBP from baseline to 8 week post-intervention significantly decreased in both the IMST group [-9.1 (12.1) mmHg, P = 0.01] and the AE group [-6.2 (7.2) mmHg, P = 0.01], with no significant difference between groups (P = 0.46).Central SBP also significantly reduced in the IMST group [-9.0 (11.9) mmHg, P = 0.01] and in the AE group [-5.7 (6.2) mmHg, P = 0.01], with no significant difference between groups (P = 0.37).However, the IMST group did not show significant persistence in SBP reduction, whereas the AE group did.Conclusions: Both IMST and AE effectively reduced brachial and central BP after 8-week interventions in hypertensive patients.While IMST presents a time-efficient adjunctive option to AE, its long-term effectiveness remains uncertain.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Jae et al. (2025) conducted an RCT in Hypertension (n=28). Inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST) vs. Aerobic exercise (AE) at 40-70% of heart rate reserve for 30 minutes/session, 5 days/week was evaluated on Change in brachial systolic blood pressure from baseline to 8 weeks (Mean difference -2.9 mmHg, 95% CI -10.6 to 4.9, p=0.46). Inspiratory muscle strength training reduced brachial systolic blood pressure by 9.1 mmHg after 8 weeks, which was comparable to the 6.2 mmHg reduction achieved with aerobic exercise.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: