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The team focused the study on a group of 21 sedentary older adults between ages 68 and 78 who walked an average of about 4,000 steps per day before the study. After consulting existing studies, Lee determined that adding 3,000 steps would be a reasonable goal. This would also put most participants at 7,000 daily steps, in line with the American College of Sports Medicine’s recommendation.
On average, the results showed that participant’s systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased by an average of seven and four points, respectively, after the intervention. Previously, other studies also suggest that decreases of these magnitudes correspond to a relative risk reduction of all-cause mortality by 11 percent, and 16 percent for cardiovascular mortality, an 18 percent reduction in the risk of heart disease, and a 36 percent risk reduction of stroke. The new study also found that the 7,000-step regimen the participants in the study achieved is on-par with reductions seen with anti-hypertensive medications.
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Eight of the 21 participants were already on anti-hypertensive medications. Those participants still saw improvements in systolic blood pressure from increasing their daily activity. “In a previous study, we found that when exercise is combined with medication, exercise bolsters the effects of blood pressure medication alone,” said Linda Pescatello, Professor of kinesiology at the varsity’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources.
“It just speaks to the value of exercise as anti-hypertensive therapy. It’s not to negate the effects of medication at all, but it’s part of the treatment arsenal,”said Pescatello.”We saw that the volume of physical activity is what’s really important here, not the intensity. Using the volume as a target, whatever fits in and whatever works conveys health benefits,” she added.
Source: IANS
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