Comparing the impact of combined and aerobic exercise on blood pressure in women with prehypertension: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

Background: Evidence on the effectiveness of combined exercise over aerobic exercise alone in lowering blood pressure (BP) remains limited. This study compared the effectiveness of combined aerobic plus resistance training versus aerobic training alone, with both interventions matched for exercise duration.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial included thirty-one female participants eligible for final analysis. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: 15 to the Control (C) group, which underwent 8 weeks of aerobics, and 16 to the Combined Training (CT) group, which underwent 8 weeks of combined training. Outcome measures included weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure (PP), hand grip strength (HGS), and performance on the 30-second Chair Stand Test (30-s CST). These variables were assessed at baseline and at the end of week 8. Two-way ANOVA followed Tukey post-hoc was applied to analyze changes within and between groups over time. The effect size was calculated using partial eta squared (ηp²).

Results: Baseline characteristics were similar across groups, except for heart rate. Both groups showed significant reductions in SBP and DBP after the intervention ([C: SBP decreased by -7.4±2.2, P=0.00; DBP decreased by -5.1±2.4, P=0.00] [CT: SBP decreased by -6.1±2.1, P<0.01, and DBP decreased by -6.9±2.0, P<0.01]). The reduction in SBP was more pronounced in the C than in the CT (P=0.04), while the reduction in DBP was greater in the CT group (P=0.04). An improvement in the outcome variable is caused by the "group" or "time" effect but not by the effect of "group × time."

Conclusions: Adding resistance training to aerobic exercise enhances the reduction in diastolic blood pressure compared to aerobic exercise alone in prehypertension middle-aged women.