DYNAMIC RESISTANCE EXERCISE AND RESTING BLOOD-PRESSURE IN ADULTS - A METAANALYSIS

With the use of the meta-analytic approach, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of dynamic resistance exercise, i.e., weigh t training, on resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure in adults . A total of nine studies consisting of 259 subjects (144 exercise, 11 5 control) and 18 groups(9 exercise, 9 control) were included in this analysis. With the use of the bootstrap technique (10,000 samples), si gnificant treatment effect (Delta(3)) reductions were found across all designs and categories for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure [systolic, mean +/- SD = -4.55 +/- 1.75 mmHg, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -1.56 to -8.56; diastolic, mean +/- SD = -3.79 +/- 1.12 mmHg, 95% confidence interval CI = -1.89 to -6.33]. Delta(3) changes corresp onded with relative decreases of similar to 3 and 4% in resting systol ic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively. In conclusion, meta-ana lytic review of included studies suggests that dynamic resistance exer cise reduces resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure in adults. However, it is premature to form strong conclusions regarding the effe cts of dynamic resistance exercise on resting blood pressure. A need e xists for additional, well-designed studies on this topic before a rec ommendation can be made regarding the efficacy of dynamic resistance e xercise as a nonpharmacological therapy for reducing resting blood pre ssure in adults, especially in hypertensive adults.