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. 2001 Spring;4(2):73-80.
doi: 10.1111/j.1520-037x.2001.00529.x.

Aerobic exercise and resting blood pressure: a meta-analytic review of randomized, controlled trials

G A Kelley  1 , K A Kelley, Z V Tran
Affiliations

Aerobic exercise and resting blood pressure: a meta-analytic review of randomized, controlled trials

G A Kelley et al. Prev Cardiol. 2001 Spring.

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. (c) 2001 by CHF, Inc.

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