Association of Controlled Physical Activity with Weight Loss and Less Limitations for Hypertensive Patients

TL;DR

This study shows that supervised physical therapy and hydrotherapy help hypertensive patients lose weight and improve blood pressure more effectively than just lifestyle advice.

Contribution

The study demonstrates the added benefits of structured physical therapy and hydrotherapy over unsupervised lifestyle changes for hypertensive patients.

Findings

Group C and D showed significant decreases in BMI, waist circumference, and blood pressure.

Groups A and B had less effective outcomes compared to C and D.

Supervised programs led to better results than unsupervised lifestyle changes.

Abstract

Background: The overweight population is a major public health problem which is typical for the 21st century, considering the peak of the noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The connection between hypertension—the number-one risk factor of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)—and the body mass index (BMI), which is growing worldwide, needs to be taken into consideration. Methods: Four homogeneous groups of twenty-five patients each with hypertension degree 1 benefited from different 8-week recovery programs: recommendation for a healthy lifestyle (all groups—A, B, C and D), antihypertensive medication (groups B, C and D), physical therapy program (group C), and hydrotherapy program (group D). Four parameters were pursued: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (Wcir.), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP-DBP). Results: Intragroup comparison between initial and final testing registered a statistically significant decrease in all parameters for group C: BMI (p = 0.001), Wcir, SBP and DBP (p < 0.0001). Additionally, parameters of group D decreased significantly: BMI (p = 0.0005), Wcir, SBP and DBP (each p < 0.0001). Group A registered a statistical increase in the DPB parameter (p = 0.03), and group B had a significant decrease in SBP (p = 0.03). Conclusions: Implication in established physical therapy and hydrotherapy had a better outcome in diminishing all four parameters compared to the recommendations for a healthy lifestyle when patients had to improve their lifestyle by themselves, unsupervised.

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