The effect of regular aquatic exercise on blood pressure: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Background No meta-analysis has examined the effect of regular aquatic exercise on blood pressure. The purpose of this study was to perform a meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of regular aquatic exercise on blood pressure. Design A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Methods Databases were searched for literature published up to April 2017. The randomized controlled trials analysed involved healthy adults, an intervention group that only performed aquatic exercise and a control group that did not exercise, no other intervention, and trials indicated mean systolic blood pressure or diastolic blood pressure. The net change in blood pressure was calculated from each trial, and the changes in blood pressure were pooled by a random effects model, and the risk of heterogeneity was evaluated. Subgroup analysis of subjects with hypertension, subjects who performed endurance exercise (or not), and subjects who only swam (or not) was performed, and the net changes in blood pressure were pooled. Results The meta-analysis examined 14 trials involving 452 subjects. Pooled net changes in blood pressure improved significantly (systolic blood pressure -8.4 mmHg; diastolic blood pressure -3.3 mmHg) and the changes in systolic blood pressure contained significant heterogeneity. When subjects were limited to those with hypertension, those who performed endurance exercise and subjects who did not swim, pooled net changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly, but the heterogeneity of systolic blood pressure did not improve. Conclusion Like exercise on land, aquatic exercise should have a beneficial effect by lowering blood pressure. In addition, aquatic exercise should lower the blood pressure of subjects with hypertension, and other forms of aquatic exercise besides swimming should also lower blood pressure.

Metabolic response to 12-weeks of Aqua Zumba® Fitness in obese women

“…The key finding of this study was that 12 weeks of the Aqua Zumba® Fitness programme elicited significant positive changes in all metabolic syndrome parameters in both young and middle-age obese women. This is in alignment with findings from other studies on water-based exercise intervention done on various age group of overweight, obese and healthy populations (Igarashi & Nogami, 2017;Kantyka et al, 2015;Kasprzak & Pilaczyńska-Szcześniak, 2014;Yoo, Kim, & Song, 2013).…”

Sedentary time, physical activity, and sleep quality in fibromyalgia: The al‐Ándalus project

“…However, after PA there is a physiological response that includes a decrease in this sympathetic tone and a shift toward parasympathetic activity, which promotes muscular and nervous relaxation . Partially as a consequence of this parasympathetic activity, PA is shown to decrease the heart rate and to have antihypertensive effects which also facilitate sleep . Moreover, PA induces body and mental relaxation and has a clear anxiolytic effect , thus decreasing stress levels, which may all together promote a better SQ .…”

“…32,33 Partially as a consequence of this parasympathetic activity, PA is shown to decrease the heart rate and to have antihypertensive effects which also facilitate sleep. 34 Moreover, PA induces body and mental relaxation and has a clear anxiolytic effect , 35 thus decreasing stress levels, 35 which may all together promote a better SQ. 36 It is also plausible that those women with high levels of ST and low levels of PA have less hours of slow wave sleep.…”

Editor’s Presentation

“…5 Physical exercise is an important component of a lifestyle approach for preventing and managing hypertension, alone or in combination with pharmacological therapy. 6,7 A small report is here suggesting that this intervention should be personalised and adapted to each individual. In fact, different exercise modalities elicit very different changes on blood pressure variability while they induce similar reductions of blood pressure values.…”