Impact of physical exercise on blood pressure levels in hypertensive patients: A review of recent studies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v14i8.49426Keywords:
Physical exercise, Hypertension, Blood pressure.Abstract
Introduction: Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) is a chronic disease with high global prevalence and a significant negative impact on public health. Regular physical exercise has been recommended as an effective non-pharmacological strategy for blood pressure control. Objective: To evaluate the influence of physical activity on blood pressure levels in individuals diagnosed with systemic arterial hypertension through a literature review. Methods: A search was conducted in the PubMed, Scielo, and LILACS databases, selecting articles published in the last five years that addressed the relationship between physical exercise and hypertension. Ten studies were included, covering various types of physical activity such as aerobic exercise, resistance training, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and functional training. Results: The studies indicated that regular physical exercise, especially when performed for periods longer than 10 weeks, leads to significant reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Improvements were also observed in blood pressure variability, cardiovascular function, and overall health of hypertensive patients. Combined modalities and positive attitudes toward physical activity enhance these effects. Conclusion: Physical activity is a safe and effective intervention for lowering blood pressure in patients with systemic arterial hypertension and should be incorporated as a key component of the multidisciplinary treatment of this condition.
References
Alemaeyhu, A., & Teferi, G. (2023). Effectiveness of aerobic, resistance, and combined training for hypertensive patients: A randomized controlled trial. Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences, 33(6), 1063–1074. https://doi.org/10.4314/ejhs.v33i6.17
Caminiti, G., et al. (2021). Effects of 12 weeks of aerobic versus combined aerobic plus resistance exercise training on short‑term blood pressure variability in patients with hypertension. Journal of Applied Physiology, 130(4), 1085–1092. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00910.2020
Cheng, Z., Zeng, Q., Zhu, C., Yang, G., & Zhong, L. (2024). Association between joint physical activity and sleep duration and hypertension in US adults: Cross-sectional NHANES study. Sleep Health, 10(6), 628–634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2024.08.005
Correia, R. R., et al. (2023). Strength training for arterial hypertension treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 201. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26583-3
Habyarimana, J. D., Tugirumukiza, E., & Zhou, K. (2022). Educação física e esportes: Uma espinha dorsal de toda a comunidade no século XXI. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(12), 7296. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127296
Henkin, J. S., Pinto, R. S., Machado, C. L. F., & Wilhelm, E. N. (2023). Chronic effect of resistance training on blood pressure in older adults with prehypertension and hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Experimental Gerontology, 177, 112193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2023.112193
Herawati, I., et al. (2025). Impact of combined high‑intensity bodyweight interval training and breathing exercise on cardiometabolic health in normal‑weight middle‑aged adults with hypertension. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 962. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22139-y
Herrod, P. J. J., Lund, J. N., & Phillips, B. E. (2021). Intervenções de atividade física com eficiência de tempo para reduzir a pressão arterial em idosos: Um estudo controlado randomizado. Ageing, 50(3), 980–984. https://doi.org/10.1093/envelhecimento/afaa211
IBETP. (n.d.). A história da educação física. https://ibetp.com.br/profissoes/a-historia-da-educacao-fisica/ (Acessado em 10 de julho de 2025)
Improta-Caria, A. C. (2022). Exercício físico e microRNAs: Mecanismos moleculares na hipertensão e infarto do miocárdio. Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia, 118(6), 1147–1149. https://doi.org/10.36660/abc.20210538
Islam, F. M. A., et al. (2023). Associations of physical activity levels and attitudes toward physical activity with blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure in Bangladesh. PLOS ONE, 18(2), e0280879. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280879
Lima, J., Franzoni, L., & Monteiro, E. P. (2024). Is there a relationship between physical activity in free time and the incidence of high blood pressure? Existe relação entre atividade física no tempo livre e incidência de hipertensão arterial? Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia, 121(6), e20240318. https://doi.org/10.36660/abc.20240318
Lopes, S., et al. (2021). Efeito do treinamento exercício na pressão arterial ambulatorial entre pacientes com hipertensão resistente: Um ensaio clínico randomizado. JAMA Cardiology, 6(11), 1317–1323. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2021.2735
Lu, Q., et al. (2024). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing‑guided exercise therapy in hypertensive patients: A single center study. Cardiovascular Therapy, 2024, 8476971. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/8476971
McEvoy, J. W., et al. (2024). 2024 ESC guidelines for the management of elevated blood pressure and hypertension. European Heart Journal, 45(38), 3912–4018.https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehae178 Erratum em: European Heart Journal, 46(14), 1300.
Müller, C., et al. (2024). Effects of high-intensity interval training on retinal vessel diameters and oxygen saturation in patients with hypertension: A cross-sectional and randomized controlled trial. Microvascular Research, 151, 104616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mvr.2023.104616
Oliveira, G. H., et al. (2023). Efeitos do treinamento intervalado de alta intensidade sobre a pressão arterial central: Uma revisão sistemática e metanálise. Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia, 120(4), e20220398. https://doi.org/10.36660/abc.20220398
Pinheiro, J. K., et al. (2024). The effects of functional training on the ambulatory blood pressure and physical fitness of resistant hypertensive elderly people: A randomized clinical rehearsal with preliminary results. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(8), 1015. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21081015
Pereira, A. S. et al. (2018). Metodologia da pesquisa científica. [free ebook]. Santa Maria. Editora da UFSM.
Souza, T. C., Matos, S. M. A., Almeida, M. D. C. C., Fonseca, M. J. M., Molina, M. D. C. B., Griep, R. H., Pitanga, C. P. S., & Pitanga, F. J. G. (2024). Leisure time physical activity and incidence of arterial hypertension in ELSA-Brasil participants. Atividade física no tempo livre e incidência de hipertensão arterial em participantes do ELSA-Brasil. Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia, 121(6), e20230734. https://doi.org/10.36660/abc.20230734
Rother, E. T. (2007). Revisão sistemática x revisão narrativa. Acta paul. enferm. 20 (2). https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-21002007000200001.
Zhu, Y., & Wang, Z. (2024). Association between joint physical activity and healthy dietary patterns and hypertension in US adults: Cross-sectional NHANES study. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 855. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18346-8
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Ana Laura Dessimoni de Oliveira, Ana Luiza Campolina Gomes, Estela de Oliveira Rodrigues, Renan Victor Decker

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
1) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
2) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
3) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
