Pilates Exercise for Hypertensive Patients: A Review of the Literature

Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) has a prevalence of approximately 1 billion cases worldwide. The main goals for its treatment involve changes in a patient's lifestyle, with a strategy of management that aims to increase his or her level of physical activity, with a recommendation for aerobic and resistance exercise. Some evidence has suggested that training with isometric exercises can produce effects similar to aerobic exercise on blood pressure reduction. Conventional exercises that are currently used in rehabilitation of hypertensive patients show low adherence, with a lack of motivation on the part of those patients. In that context, the Pilates method, which uses isometric exercises, has been gaining in popularity and worldwide acceptance, and it has the potential to be an effective method. The current literature review shows the possible benefits of the Pilates method for rehabilitation of hypertensive patients. However, even though the method is a promising modality, the authors have found that future research appears to be necessary to evaluate the benefits of Pilates for hypertensive patients.