Takaisin

Resistance training in adults with hypertension

Näytönastekatsaukset
Maija Paukkunen
21.9.2026

Level of evidence: B

Low- to moderate-intensity resistance training (dynamic and isometric) likely result in systolic blood pressure reductions ranging from −4.3 to −6.6 mmHg for isometric resistance training (IRT) and +0.5 to −6.9 mmHg for dynamic resistance training (DRT) and diastolic blood pressure reductions ranging from −4.5 to −5.5 mmHg for IRT and −1.0 to −5.2 mmHg for DRT.

The certainty of the evidence is limited by study limitations, inconsistency, imprecision and publication bias.

Applicability to clinical practice is good, as exercise interventions are feasible in everyday life and even a sustained reduction of a few mmHg in blood pressure is clinically and population-wise meaningful. Resistance training can be recommended as part of primary and secondary prevention of arterial hypertension. IRT and DRT may be given equal priority as second-line exercise modalities.

Table 1. Description of the included studies
Reference Study type Population Intervention and comparison Outcomes Risk of bias «Additional comments for included studies...»2
RCT=randomized controlled trial; SR=systematic review; MA=meta-analysis
«Hanssen H, Boardman H, Deiseroth A, ym. Personaliz...»1 Systematic review of meta-analyses (Consensus document) 34 meta-analysis including adults (≥18 years) with hypertension Dynamic resistance training, isometric resistance training vs usual lifestyle or no exercise Systolic blood pressure; Diastolic blood pressure Low to moderate
«Morita H, Abe M, Suematsu Y, ym. Resistance exerci...»2 MA 84 studies, including 5065 adults (≥18 years) with hypertension.



Europe, Asia, North America, Oceania and others
Exercise training modalities including dynamic resistance training and isometric resistance training compared to non-exercise control in an RCT setting. Systolic blood pressure; Diastolic blood pressure Moderate
Table 2. Additional comments for included studies
Reference Comments
«Hanssen H, Boardman H, Deiseroth A, ym. Personaliz...»1 Adults (>18 years), with and without cardiovascular risk factors, across normal BP, high-normal BP, and hypertension categories. Exercise interventions with duration 3-52 weeks. Frequency of the training typically 3x/week. Main exclusions (meta-analyses): Focus on specific diseases (eg, type 2 diabetes or chronic kidney disease), children/adolescents only, acute exercise effects, non-randomized trials, neuromotor exercise (eg, Tai Chi, Yoga), unclear cardiovascular effects, morbidity/mortality as primary endpoint.
«Morita H, Abe M, Suematsu Y, ym. Resistance exerci...»2 Intervention duration: Mean 14.1 ± 7.9 weeks (range 4 to 48 weeks). Blood pressure measurement setting: Office, home, or ambulatory measurements. Antihypertensive medication use: Trials with BP-lowering medication "as part of the intervention" were excluded, but baseline medication use of participants is not summarized in the main article.

Results

Table 3. Outcome 1: Systolic Blood Pressure
Reference Mode Number of studies and number of patients (I/C) Follow-up time Absolute number of events (%) I Absolute number of events (%) C Relative effect (95% CI)
I=intervention; C=comparison; CI=confidence interval
«Hanssen H, Boardman H, Deiseroth A, ym. Personaliz...»1 Isometric resistance training 15 trials, number of patients not reported. NR N/A N/A Mean expected reduction range: -4.3 to
-6.6 mmHg
Dynamic resistance training NR
N/A

N/A


Mean expected range +0.5 to −6.9 mmHg (hypertension)
«Morita H, Abe M, Suematsu Y, ym. Resistance exerci...»2 Isometric resistance training 5 trials, number of patients not reported. NR N/A N/A


−6.27 (−9.58 to −2.96)
Dynamic resistance training 11 trials, number of patients not reported. NR N/A N/A −6.44 (−8.39 to −4.49)
Level of evidence: moderate
The quality of evidence is downgraded due to study limitations, imprecision and inconsistency.
Table 4. Outcome 2: Diastolic Blood Pressure
Reference Mode Number of studies and number of patients (I/C) Follow-up time Absolute number of events (%) I Absolute number of events (%) C Relative effect (95% CI)
I=intervention; C=comparison; CI=confidence interval
«Hanssen H, Boardman H, Deiseroth A, ym. Personaliz...»1 Isometric resistance training 15 trials, number of patients not reported. NR N/A N/A Mean expected range: -4.5 to -5.5 mmHg
Dynamic resistance training NR N/A N/A Mean expected range: −1.0 to −5.2 mmHg (hypertension)
«Morita H, Abe M, Suematsu Y, ym. Resistance exerci...»2 Isometric resistance training 5 trials, number of patients not reported. NR N/A N/A −3.51 (−5.70 to −1.33)
Dynamic resistance training 11 trials, number of patients not reported. NR N/A N/A −3.19 (−5.83 to −0.55)
Level of evidence: moderate
The quality of evidence is downgraded due to study limitations and inconsistency.

References

  1. Hanssen H, Boardman H, Deiseroth A, ym. Personalized exercise prescription in the prevention and treatment of arterial hypertension: a Consensus Document from the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC) and the ESC Council on Hypertension. Eur J Prev Cardiol 2022;29(1):205-215 «PMID: 33758927»PubMed
  2. Morita H, Abe M, Suematsu Y, ym. Resistance exercise has an antihypertensive effect comparable to that of aerobic exercise in hypertensive patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Hypertens Res 2025;48(2):733-743 «PMID: 39609644»PubMed