Recreational beach tennis training reduces ambulatory blood pressure in adults with hypertension: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect of 12 weeks of beach tennis training on 24-h ambulatory blood pressure in adults with essential hypertension. Methods: This was a randomized, single-blinded, two-arm, parallel superiority trial. Forty-two participants aged 35–65 years with a previous diagnosis of hypertension were randomized into 12 weeks of beach tennis training group (two sessions per week lasting 45–60 min) or a nonexercising control group. Ambulatory 24 h (primary outcome) and office blood pressure, heart rate at rest, cardiorespiratory fitness, and muscle strength were assessed at baseline and after the intervention period. Generalized estimating equation analyses were employed to examine the main effects of the interventions. Results: In the beach tennis group, night-time systolic (−9 mmHg, P = 0.023), diastolic (−4 mmHg, P = 0.026), and mean arterial pressure (−7 mmHg, P = 0.023) decreased after 12 weeks of training. The office SBP/DBP (−6 mmHg, P = 0.016/−6 mmHg, P = 0.001) also decreased in the beach tennis group. Heart rate at rest decreased in the beach tennis group (−4 bpm, P = 0.012) but increased in the control group (6 bpm, P = 0.005). The lower and upper limb muscle strength increased in the beach tennis group after training. However, no such changes were observed in the control group. Conclusion: A 12-week recreational beach tennis training significantly reduced office and ambulatory BP among untrained adults with essential hypertension. Additionally, participation in this sport has led to improvements in physical fitness and overall cardiovascular risk profiles. This clinical trial was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03909321).