In an effort to establish an optimal antihypertensive exercise prescription, researchers from Kent, England, conducted a large-scale pairwise and network meta-analysis on the effects of various exercise modes on resting blood pressure. They looked at 270 randomized controlled trials with more than 15,800 patients. Significant reductions in resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure were demonstrated; rank order of reductions is shown in the figure. In a secondary analysis, they noted that isometric wall squats and running were shown to be the most effective submodes for reducing both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Source: Edwards JJ, Deenmamode AHP, Griffiths M, et al. Exercise training and resting blood pressure: a large-scale pairwise and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Br J Sports Med. 2023 Oct;57(20):1317-1326. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2022-106503.
