Hypertension affects 25% of the world's population and is considered a risk
factor for cardiovascular disorders and other diseases. The aim of this study
was to examine the evidence regarding the acute effect of exercise on blood
pressure (BP) using meta-analytic measures. Sixty-five studies were compared
using effect sizes (ES), and heterogeneity and Z tests to determine whether the
ES were different from zero. The mean corrected global ES for exercise
conditions were -0.56 (-4.80 mmHg) for systolic BP (sBP) and -0.44 (-3.19 mmHg)
for diastolic BP (dBP; z ≠ 0 for all; p < 0.05). The
reduction in BP was significant regardless of the participant's initial BP
level, gender, physical activity level, antihypertensive drug intake, type of BP
measurement, time of day in which the BP was measured, type of exercise
performed, and exercise training program (p < 0.05 for all).
ANOVA tests revealed that BP reductions were greater if participants were males,
not receiving antihypertensive medication, physically active, and if the
exercise performed was jogging. A significant inverse correlation was found
between age and BP ES, body mass index (BMI) and sBP ES, duration of the
exercise's session and sBP ES, and between the number of sets performed in the
resistance exercise program and sBP ES (p < 0.05).
Regardless of the characteristics of the participants and exercise, there was a
reduction in BP in the hours following an exercise session. However, the
hypotensive effect was greater when the exercise was performed as a preventive
strategy in those physically active and without antihypertensive medication.