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Is resistance training alone an antihypertensive therapy? A meta-analysis

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 35, pages 769–775 (2021)Cite this article

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A Correction to this article was published on 05 August 2021

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Abstract

Evidence concerning the prescription of isolated resistance training (RT) to hypertensive individuals is limited. Guidelines are divergent concerning RT inclusion for prehypertensive and hypertensive persons. A meta-analysis investigating data with larger sample sizes provides more robust effect size estimates and allows for inferences on clinical choices concerning the effectiveness of RT alone. In this context, the aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the effects of RT alone on the systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures in prehypertensive and hypertensive individuals. Data from 13 studies involving 417 participants (207 assigned to RT and 210 controls) were obtained. The results indicate significant reductions in SBP (−6.16 mmHg CI −8.27 to −4.04; I2: 31.0% P value for heterogeneity = 0.136 and effect size = −0.59) and DBP (−3.70 mmHg CI −5.19 to −2.21; I2: 18.3% P value for heterogeneity = 0.106 and effect size = −0.55) when compared to control groups. In conclusion, RT alone is able to reduce SBP and DBP in prehypertensive and hypertensive subjects, especially in elderly individuals.

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The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal do Pará—UFPA, Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Belém, PA, Brazil

    Odilon Abrahin & João Farias Guerreiro

  2. Universidade Federal de São Paulo—UNIFESP, Laboratório de Imunologia Pulmonar e do Exercício, São Paulo, Brazil

    Renilson Moraes-Ferreira

  3. Universidade do Estado do Pará—UEPA, Laboratório de Bioquímica do Exercício, Belém, PA, Brazil

    Erik Artur Cortinhas-Alves

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  1. Odilon Abrahin
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Correspondence to Odilon Abrahin.

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The original online version of this article was revised: Due to an error in figure 5.

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Abrahin, O., Moraes-Ferreira, R., Cortinhas-Alves, E.A. et al. Is resistance training alone an antihypertensive therapy? A meta-analysis. J Hum Hypertens 35, 769–775 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-021-00582-9

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