Physical activity to prevent and treat hypertension: A systematic review

We read with interest the article by Pescatello et al. (1) within which they state the following: These investigators were unable to explain reasons for larger reductions in SBP (systolic blood pressure) among adults with normal BP compared with adults with hypertension… Therefore, no conclusions can be made about the antihypertensive benefits of isometric resistance training. We believe this statement is compromised for several reasons. First, Pescatello et al. (1) based their comment solely on the meta-analysis by Carlson et al. (2), so their systematic search missed the larger, more robust 2016 meta-analysis by Inder et al. (3). Inder’s analysis (3) and the recent individual patient data meta-analysis of 326 participants (4) both confirm the unequivocal antihypertensive benefits of isometric resistance training (IRT), meaning there exists three congruent meta-analyses.