The effect of walking intervention on blood pressure control: A systematic review.
Summary of "The effect of walking intervention on blood pressure control: A systematic review."
BACKGROUND:
Hypertension is a major public health problem and a key risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. Increased physical activity has been recommended as an important lifestyle modification for the prevention and control of hypertension. However the optimal characteristics for a physical activity programme remain open to debate. Walking is recommended by healthcare professionals as a form of exercise for controlling hypertension and nurses find it difficult to provide advice about this form of physical activity. Studies testing the effect of walking on blood pressure have produced inconsistent findings.
OBJECTIVES:
To systematically review the evidence for the effectiveness of walking intervention on blood pressure.
METHODS:
A systematic search of the literature was conducted using a range of electronic and evidence-based databases to identify studies. Criteria for study inclusion were a randomised controlled trial design with a non-intervention control group; study samples were aged 16 years and over; the intervention was predominantly focused on walking and blood pressure was an outcome. Data extraction and quality appraisal were carried out independently by two reviewers; a third reviewer was consulted when needed.
RESULTS:
A total of 27 randomised controlled trials were included and nine of the 27 trials found an effect of walking intervention on blood pressure control. Walking intervention tends to be effective from studies with larger sample size. A beneficial effect of walking on blood pressure tended to employ moderate to high-intensity walking and a longer intervention period than those trials not showing the effect.
CONCLUSIONS:
The results of this review provide evidence of the beneficial effects of walking on lowering blood pressure. Recommendations on lowering blood pressure with a walking activity should address the issue of walking intensity to achieve a beneficial effect on lowering blood pressure. Future research investigating the effect of walking intensity on blood pressure levels and rigorous design of walking interventions to achieve better adherence and methodological quality is required.
Affiliation
Department of Nursing, Tzu Chi College of Technology, and School of Nursing, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: International journal of nursing studies
ISSN: 1873-491X
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20863494
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2010.08.008
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Walking
An activity in which the body advances at a slow to moderate pace by moving the feet in a coordinated fashion. This includes recreational walking, walking for fitness, and competitive race-walking.
Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
The Commission was created by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 under Title XVIII. It is specifically charged to review the effect of Medicare+Choice under Medicare Part C and to review payment policies under Parts A and B. It is also generally charged to evaluate the effect of prospective payment policies and their impact on health care delivery in the US. The former Prospective Payment Assessment Commission (ProPAC) and the Physician Payment Review Commission (PPRC) were merged to form MEDPAC.
Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory
Method in which repeated blood pressure readings are made while the patient undergoes normal daily activities. It allows quantitative analysis of the high blood pressure load over time, can help distinguish between types of HYPERTENSION, and can assess the effectiveness of antihypertensive therapy.
Hypertension
Persistently high systemic arterial BLOOD PRESSURE. Based on multiple readings (BLOOD PRESSURE DETERMINATION), hypertension is currently defined as when SYSTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently greater than 140 mm Hg or when DIASTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently 90 mm Hg or more.
Baroreflex
A response by the BARORECEPTORS to increased BLOOD PRESSURE. Increased pressure stretches BLOOD VESSELS which activates the baroreceptors in the vessel walls. The net response of the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM is a reduction of central sympathetic outflow. This reduces blood pressure both by decreasing peripheral VASCULAR RESISTANCE and by lowering CARDIAC OUTPUT. Because the baroreceptors are tonically active, the baroreflex can compensate rapidly for both increases and decreases in blood pressure.
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