Influence of physical activity on the arterial blood pressure of the elderly

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this review was to determine the influence of physical activity on the arterial blood pressure of the elderly through a review of previous research. Methods: The search was performed on the Web of Science, Google Scholar and PubMed databases. The first search identified 1112 articles. In the initial assessment carried out in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 15 articles were found suitable and were included in the study, while 1097 studies were excluded. The search was limited to articles published in period of 2002­–2022. Results: After the applied exercise programs and evaluation at the final measurements, the mean values of systolic blood pressure, on the total sample, were 131 mmHg, while the values of diastolic blood pressure were 77 mmHg, which indicates that physical activity (regardless of whether swimming, walking, yoga, resistance training, high interval training, Tai Chi) have a positive effect on the arterial blood pressure of the elderly. Conclusion: All studies, except one, showed a positive influence of physical activity on the arterial blood pressure of elderly people. In this regard, it can be concluded that physical activity, regardless of the type of activity, has a positive effect on the arterial blood pressure of the elderly, in the form of a reduction in blood pressure values.