Aerobic Exercise and Resting Blood Pressure: A Meta‐Analytic Review of Randomized, Controlled Trials

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Abstract
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.