Findings from the Meta-Analysis

• Significant reductions in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were found after aerobic exercise training (AET), dynamic resistance training, combined training, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and particularly IET.
• Isometric exercise training (IET) was identified as the most effective exercise mode for reducing both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, outranking other exercise forms in terms of effectiveness.
• Secondary network meta-analyses spotlighted isometric wall squat and running as the most effective submodes for reducing SBP and DBP respectively.

Importance of Exercise Mode in Hypertension Management

• The meta-analysis indicates that all tested exercise modes are effective in blood pressure management, but highlights the superior efficacy of isometric exercise, which should be considered in future guideline recommendations for hypertension treatment.
• The comparison between exercise modes, including novel submodes, provides a detailed guide for optimizing exercise prescriptions in the management of resting blood pressure.

Implications for Exercise Guidelines

• This study supports the significant role of exercise, especially IET, in managing resting blood pressure and suggests the need for updating current exercise guidelines to reflect the effectiveness of different exercise modes.
• The findings advocate for the inclusion of a variety of exercise types in recommendations, with a particular emphasis on the promising results of IET for blood pressure reduction.