Frequency of Isometric Exercise for Sustained Blood Pressure Reduction

Isometric exercise training (IET) performed just 1–2 times per week can partially preserve the blood pressure (BP)-lowering benefits achieved after an initial 4-week program, although exercising 3 times per week provides the strongest and most sustained effects. In this UK randomized study of 100 adults with normal to high-normal BP, all IET groups completed an initial 4-week lower-body program three times weekly, which reduced systolic BP by 9.45 mm Hg, diastolic BP by 5.47 mm Hg, and mean arterial pressure by 6.80 mm Hg compared with controls. During the subsequent 4-week maintenance period, participants exercising 1, 2, or 3 times per week maintained reductions in systolic BP and mean arterial pressure, with the greatest benefits in the 3-times-per-week group, whereas stopping IET completely led to a reversal of BP reductions. However, only the 3-times-per-week group maintained improvements in total peripheral resistance, heart rate variability, and baroreceptor reflex sensitivity, suggesting that more frequent training may be needed to sustain the broader cardiovascular adaptations and benefits. Source: https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/