- High blood pressure or hypertension is a common condition that can lead to serious problems without proper management.
- High blood pressure management can involve using medications and lifestyle modifications.
- Data from a systematic review and meta-analysis found that strength training may be an effective non-medication option for the management of high blood pressure. However, its effectiveness depends on factors like intensity level and duration.
People with high blood pressure or hypertension are at risk for certain long-term complications. Early intervention can lower blood pressure and reduce someone’s risk for complications.
Researchers are still working to understand the best options for lifestyle modifications to improve blood pressure. One area of interest is how strength training plays a role in lowering blood pressure.
A recent
Researchers noted that strength training appears most effective when it involves training at least twice a week with moderate to vigorous intensity over at least two months.
Researchers in this systematic review and meta-analysis looked at several studies to examine the impact of strength training on high blood pressure levels.
They found studies through several databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, and World Health Organization. Their research included fourteen randomized controlled trials that met inclusion criteria.
In total, the review and analysis included 253 individuals with hypertension. The average age of participants was just under sixty years old.
Study senior author Giovana Rampazzo Teixeira, Ph.D., with the Department of Physical Education, UNESP – São Paulo State University, School of Technology and Sciences, explained: “We used randomized clinical studies that used strength training as a treatment for arterial hypertension in hypertensive individuals.”
Researchers found that strength…
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