Key result
Morning aerobic exercise lowers nocturnal SBP by ~6 mmHg compared to evening exercise.
Why the study?
The optimal timing of aerobic exercise for improving nocturnal blood pressure and sleep quality in healthy young men was unclear.
Does morning versus evening aerobic exercise improve nocturnal blood pressure dipping and sleep quality in healthy young men?
RCT (n=15)
Randomized crossover
No
Does morning versus evening aerobic exercise improve nocturnal blood pressure dipping and sleep quality in healthy young men?
Standardized Mean Difference: 0.82
Absolute Event Rate: 87.6% vs 93.3%
p-value: p=<0.05
Morning aerobic exercise is more effective than evening exercise at promoting nocturnal blood pressure dipping and improving sleep efficiency in healthy young men.
May favor morning over evening aerobic exercise for nocturnal SBP reduction in young men; extends acute timing data but leaves optimal scheduling open.
[Purpose] To determine the optimal timing of aerobic exercise for nocturnal blood pressure (BP), this study compared the acute effects of morning and evening moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (65% heart rate reserve, 30 min) on nocturnal BP, and sleep quality. [Participants and Methods] This randomized crossover study included 15 healthy young male participants who randomly completed three experimental trials: (1) morning trial (09:30-10:00), (2) evening trial (17:30-18:00), and (3) a sedentary control trial. The exercise consisted of cycling for 30 min at 65% heart rate reserve. Nocturnal systolic BP (SBP), and sleep efficiency were assessed using the oscillometric method, and actigraphy, respectively. [Results] The morning trial produced a lower nocturnal SBP than both the evening (Cohen's d=0.82) and control trials (Cohen's d=1.23), whereas the evening trial also produced a lower nocturnal SBP than the control trial (Cohen's d=0.32). Sleep efficiency was higher in the morning trial than in both the evening (Cohen's d=5.42) and control trials (Cohen's d=5.12). [Conclusion] Morning aerobic exercise more effectively promoted nocturnal BP dipping among healthy young men than did evening exercise.
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Kobayashi et al. (2026) conducted an RCT in Healthy individuals (n=15). Morning aerobic exercise vs. Evening aerobic exercise and sedentary control was evaluated on Nocturnal systolic blood pressure (SBP) (Cohen's d=0.82, p=<0.05). Morning aerobic exercise produced significantly lower nocturnal systolic blood pressure compared to evening exercise (Cohen's d=0.82) and sedentary control (Cohen's d=1.23) in healthy young men.
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