Purpose: Physical activity has been associated with reduced
blood pressure in observational epidemiologic studies and individual
clinical trials. This meta-analysis of randomized, controlled
trials was conducted to determine the effect of aerobic exercise on
blood pressure.
Data Sources: English-language articles published before September
2001.
Study Selection: 54 randomized, controlled trials (2419 participants)
whose intervention and control groups differed only in
aerobic exercise.
Data Extraction: Using a standardized protocol and data extraction
form, three of the investigators independently abstracted
data on study design, sample size, participant characteristics, type
of intervention, follow-up duration, and treatment outcomes.
Data Synthesis: In a random-effects model, data from each trial
were pooled and weighted by the inverse of the total variance.
Aerobic exercise was associated with a significant reduction in
mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure (3.84 mm Hg [95%
CI, 4.97 to 2.72 mm Hg] and 2.58 mm Hg [CI, 3.35 to
1.81 mm Hg], respectively). A reduction in blood pressure was
associated with aerobic exercise in hypertensive participants and
normotensive participants and in overweight participants and
normal-weight participants.
Conclusions: Aerobic exercise reduces blood pressure in both
hypertensive and normotensive persons. An increase in aerobic
physical activity should be considered an important component of
lifestyle modification for prevention and treatment of high blood