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

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.