This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 46/4/667    most recent 01.HYP.0000184225.05629.51v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cornelissen, V. A. Articles by Fagard, R. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cornelissen, V. A. Articles by Fagard, R. H. Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Related Collections Clinical Studies Exercise/exercise testing/rehabilitation

(Hypertension. 2005;46:667.)
© 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Articles

Effects of Endurance Training on Blood Pressure, Blood Pressure–Regulating Mechanisms, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

From the Hypertension and Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Molecular and Cardiovascular Research, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.

Correspondence to R. Fagard, MD, PhD, U.Z. Gasthuisberg–Hypertensie, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. E-mail robert.fagard{at}uz.kuleuven.ac.be

Previous meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials on the effects of chronic dynamic aerobic endurance training on blood pressure reported on resting blood pressure only. Our aim was to perform a comprehensive meta-analysis including resting and ambulatory blood pressure, blood pressure–regulating mechanisms, and concomitant cardiovascular risk factors. Inclusion criteria of studies were: random allocation to intervention and control; endurance training as the sole intervention; inclusion of healthy sedentary normotensive or hypertensive adults; intervention duration of 4 weeks; availability of systolic or diastolic blood pressure; and publication in a peer-reviewed journal up to December 2003. The meta-analysis involved 72 trials, 105 study groups, and 3936 participants. After weighting for the number of trained participants and using a random-effects model, training induced significant net reductions of resting and daytime ambulatory blood pressure of, respectively, 3.0/2.4 mm Hg (P<0.001) and 3.3/3.5 mm Hg (P<0.01). The reduction of resting blood pressure was more pronounced in the 30 hypertensive study groups (–6.9/–4.9) than in the others (–1.9/–1.6; P<0.001 for all). Systemic vascular resistance decreased by 7.1% (P<0.05), plasma norepinephrine by 29% (P<0.001), and plasma renin activity by 20% (P<0.05). Body weight decreased by 1.2 kg (P<0.001), waist circumference by 2.8 cm (P<0.001), percent body fat by 1.4% (P<0.001), and the homeostasis model assessment index of insulin resistance by 0.31 U (P<0.01); HDL cholesterol increased by 0.032 mmol/L^–1 (P<0.05). In conclusion, aerobic endurance training decreases blood pressure through a reduction of vascular resistance, in which the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin system appear to be involved, and favorably affects concomitant cardiovascular risk factors.

Key Words: exercise • blood pressure • risk factors

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Kokkinos, A. Manolis, A. Pittaras, M. Doumas, A. Giannelou, D. B. Panagiotakos, C. Faselis, P. Narayan, S. Singh, and J. Myers Exercise Capacity and Mortality in Hypertensive Men With and Without Additional Risk Factors Hypertension, March 1, 2009; 53(3): 494 - 499. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. K. Martin, T. S. Church, A. M. Thompson, C. P. Earnest, and S. N. Blair Exercise Dose and Quality of Life: A Randomized Controlled Trial Arch Intern Med, February 9, 2009; 169(3): 269 - 278. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Palatini, P. Visentin, F. Dorigatti, C. Guarnieri, M. Santonastaso, S. Cozzio, F. Pegoraro, A. Bortolazzi, O. Vriz, L. Mos, et al. Regular physical activity prevents development of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension Eur. Heart J., January 2, 2009; 30(2): 225 - 232. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Kohler, J. C. T. Pepperell, B. Casadei, S. Craig, N. Crosthwaite, J. R. Stradling, and R. J. O. Davies CPAP and measures of cardiovascular risk in males with OSAS Eur. Respir. J., December 1, 2008; 32(6): 1488 - 1496. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Miyashita, S. F Burns, and D. J Stensel Accumulating short bouts of brisk walking reduces postprandial plasma triacylglycerol concentrations and resting blood pressure in healthy young men Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, November 1, 2008; 88(5): 1225 - 1231. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. K. Pedersen State of the Art Reviews: Health Benefits Related to Exercise in Patients With Chronic Low-Grade Systemic Inflammation American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, August 1, 2007; 1(4): 289 - 298. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Authors/Task Force Members:, G. Mancia, G. De Backer, A. Dominiczak, R. Cifkova, R. Fagard, G. Germano, G. Grassi, A. M. Heagerty, S. E. Kjeldsen, et al. 2007 Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension: The Task Force for the Management of Arterial Hypertension of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Eur. Heart J., June 11, 2007; (2007) ehm236v1. [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. S. Church, C. P. Earnest, J. S. Skinner, and S. N. Blair Effects of Different Doses of Physical Activity on Cardiorespiratory Fitness Among Sedentary, Overweight or Obese Postmenopausal Women With Elevated Blood Pressure: A Randomized Controlled Trial JAMA, May 16, 2007; 297(19): 2081 - 2091. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]