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Impact of resistance training on blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors: meta-analysis of randomized trials
Meta-analysis of 28 RCTs (1012 participants) reports dynamic resistance training lowers systolic/diastolic BP by about 2.8/2.7 mmHg on average, with larger isometric handgrip signals but very few isometric groups; also small improvements in VO2peak, body fat, and triglycerides.
Design
- Included trials: 28 RCTs (33 study groups), n = 1012, duration ≥4 weeks
- Population: adults ≥18 y with BP outcomes reported
- Models: random- and fixed-effects weighted means with 95% CI
Blood pressure (dynamic resistance training)
- 30 dynamic RT groups: SBP −2.8 (−4.3; −1.3) mmHg / DBP −2.7 (−3.8; −1.7) mmHg
- Normotensive/prehypertensive pooled groups (n=28): larger mean reductions reported in abstract (~−3.9/−3.9 mmHg)
- Hypertensive subset (n=5 groups): pooled reductions not significant in abstract (wide CIs)
Other risk factors (dynamic RT)
- VO2peak: +10.6% (P = 0.01)
- Body fat: −0.6% (P < 0.01)
- Triglycerides: −0.11 mmol/L (P < 0.05)
Isometric contrast (small-n caveat)
- Isometric handgrip in 3 groups showed much larger BP reductions than dynamic RT in abstract; authors caution few studies.
Publication
Cornelissen VA, Fagard RH, Coeckelberghs E, Vanhees L. Hypertension. 2011 Nov;58(5):950-958. PMID 21896934.
Outcomes
- Systolic Blood Pressure-2.8mmHg (Millimetres of Mercury)
- Diastolic Blood Pressure-2.7mmHg (Millimetres of Mercury)
- VO2peak increased by 10.6% (P=0.01) and body fat decreased by 0.6% (P<0.01) after dynamic resistance training in pooled analyses.