Does Resistance Training Provide Benefits that Are Comparable to Aerobic Exercise in Hypertension?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Historically, blood pressure (BP) guidelines emphasized the implementation of aerobic exercise. However, more recent guidelines started highlighting the benefits of resistance exercise. The primary aim of this brief review is to determine if resistance training offers comparable benefits to aerobic exercise on BP in individuals with hypertension. RECENT FINDINGS: Aerobic exercise training consistently produces the greatest effect, lowering systolic/diastolic BP by ~ 7/5 mmHg in individuals with hypertension. Dynamic resistance training elicits more modest reductions (~ 2/2 mmHg), whereas isometric resistance training, though evaluated in fewer and smaller studies, has shown clinically meaningful reductions of ~ 5/5 mmHg. However, the impacts of resistance exercise training on ambulatory BP remain non-significant and marginal. Strategies to reduce BP should prioritize aerobic exercise rather than resistance training, especially when the primary goal is BP management.