- A new analysis of 270 studies investigated the benefits of various forms of exercise in lowering blood pressure and found that static isometric exercises are the most effective.
- All of the forms of exercise included in the analysis provided benefits, though less so than isometric exercises, such as wall sits.
- Experts say that a mix of different forms of exercise provides the strongest overall health benefits.
Exercise is associated with better health. And according to a new study, isometric exercises may be best for people with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
The study authors compared aerobic, dynamic resistance, combined, high intensity interval (HIIT), and isometric exercise methods and the effects of each on blood pressure.
While all these exercise types effectively lowered blood pressure, one form, in particular, stood out.
Based on the findings, isometric exercise training had the most significant impact on lowering blood pressure.
Isometric exercises were followed by combined training, dynamic resistance training, aerobic exercise training, and HIIT.
The researchers performed a large-scale systematic review and analysis of 270 randomized, controlled exercise trials aimed at identifying the most effective workout type for managing high blood pressure.
All the trials considered in the review featured exercise interventions lasting at least 2 weeks or longer. A total of 15,827 participants were included in the review.
The study is published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Isometric exercise involves increasing tension in a muscle without moving any surrounding joints.
This is achieved by pushing against something immovable that provides resistance, such as a wall, a companion, or a device, or simply holding a position where a muscle remains tense, such as in isometric weightlifting.
According to the new research findings, the most effective isometric exercise for lowering resting blood pressure was wall sits, said study co-author Dr. Jamie…
Read the full article here