• All News
• Consumer
• Pro
• New Drugs
• Pipeline
• Clinical Trials
• FDA Alerts

Study IDs Isometric Exercises as Most Effective for Improving Resting Blood Pressure

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, July 28, 2023, 2023 -- Isometric exercises, such as wall sits and planks, are particularly effective at reducing resting blood pressure (BP), according to a review published online July 25 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Jamie J. Edwards, Ph.D., from Canterbury Christ Church University in the United Kingdom, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis on the impact of exercise training modes on resting BP. Included in the final analysis were 270 randomized controlled trials published between 1990 and February 2023, totaling 15,827 participants.

The researchers observed significant reductions in resting systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) following aerobic exercise training (−4.49/–2.53 mm Hg), dynamic resistance training (–4.55/–3.04 mm Hg), combined training (–6.04/–2.54 mm Hg), high-intensity interval training (–4.08/–2.50 mm Hg), and isometric exercise training (–8.24/–4.00 mm Hg). The rank order of effectiveness in a network meta-analysis for SBP was as follows: isometric exercise training (surface under the cumulative ranking curve [SUCRA]: 98.3 percent), combined training (SUCRA: 75.7 percent), dynamic resistance training (SUCRA: 46.1 percent), aerobic exercise training (SUCRA: 40.5 percent), and high-intensity interval training (SUCRA: 39.4 percent). Isometric wall squats and running were the most effective submodes for reducing SBP (SUCRA: 90.4 percent) and DBP (SUCRA: 91.3 percent), respectively.

"These findings provide a comprehensive data-driven framework to support the development of new exercise guideline recommendations for the prevention and treatment of arterial hypertension," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted July 2023

More news resources

• FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
• Daily MedNews
• News for Health Professionals
• New Drug Approvals
• New Drug Applications
• Drug Shortages
• Clinical Trial Results
• Generic Drug Approvals

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.