Effect of isotonic exercise (walking) on various physiological parameters in hypertension

Rationale: Walking is an isotonic aerobic exercise has been associated with reduced blood pressure and other physiological changes in observational o.p.d. studies. Study was conducted to determine the effect of isotonic aerobic exercise (walking) on blood pressure. Data resource: This study has been carried out in Kayachikitsa O.P.D., S.S. hospital, Faculty of Ayurveda, IMS, BHU. Study collection: The present work comprised a study of 84 hypertensive cases, which include 55 male, 29 females and 34 hypertensive controls, 50 hypertensive individuals. Among total cases participating in this study, control groups had not performed any exercise. All these cases of Hypertension were registered from Kayachikitsa O.P.D., IMS, BHU, for the duration of Jan 2009 to Jan 2011 and the selection was random irrespective of sex, occupation and socioeconomic deliberation. All the patients belonged to age group of 35 to 65 years. Two follow ups have been assessed during the research work i.e. initially, after one months and three months for all the physiological parameters. Conclusions: Aerobic isotonic exercise (walking) reduces blood pressure and other physiological changes i.e. Respiratory rate, Pulse rate, Blood sugar level and BMI in hypertensive exercise group (HTNE) and most of the control groups showed increase in physiological changes, this specify that lack of physical activity can cause various diseases. An increase in aerobic physical activity should be considered an important component of lifestyle modification for prevention and treatment of high blood pressure.