The Effects of Stepping Exercise on Blood Pressure, Physical Performance, and Quality of Life in Female Older Adults with Stage 1 Hypertension: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Chawin Sarinukul; Taweesak Janyacharoen; Wanida Donpunha; Saowanee Nakmareong; Wanida Ruksapukdee; Kittisak Sawanyawisuth

doi:10.5770/cgj.26.632

The Effects of Stepping Exercise on Blood Pressure, Physical Performance, and Quality of Life in Female Older Adults with Stage 1 Hypertension: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Can Geriatr J. 2023 Mar 1;26(1):144-149. doi: 10.5770/cgj.26.632. eCollection 2023 Mar.

Authors

Chawin Sarinukul¹, Taweesak Janyacharoen^{1

2}, Wanida Donpunha¹, Saowanee Nakmareong¹, Wanida Ruksapukdee³, Kittisak Sawanyawisuth⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen.
² Research Center in Back, Neck and Other Joint Pain and Human Performance, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen.
³ Department of Physiotherapy, Chum-Phae Hospital.
⁴ Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is a common disease, particularly in older adults. In a previous study, we found that an eight-week course of stepping exercise improved physical performance in healthy older adults as measured using the six-minute walk test (468 vs. 426 m in controls; p = .01). This study aims to further evaluate the effects of stepping exercise on blood pressure, physical performance, and quality of life in older adults with stage 1 hypertension.

Methods: This was a randomized, controlled trial comparing older adults with stage 1 hypertension who performed stepping exercise with controls. The stepping exercise (SE) was performed at moderate intensity three times/week over an eight-week period. Participants in the control group (CG) received verbal and written (pamphlet) lifestyle modification advice. Blood pressure at Week 8 was the primary outcome, while quality of life score and physical performance on the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), timed up and go test (TUGT), and five times sit to stand test (FTSST) were secondary outcomes.

Results: There were 17 female patients in each group (total of 34). After eight weeks of training, participants in the SE group showed significant improvements in systolic blood pressure (SBP; 132.0 vs. 145.1 mmHg; p<.01), diastolic blood pressure (DBP; 67.3 vs. 87.6 mmHg; p<.01), 6MWT (465.6 vs. 437.0; p<.01), TUGT (8.1 vs. 9.2 sec; p<.01), and FTSST (7.9 vs. 9.1 sec; p<.01) compared to controls. Regarding within-group comparison, participants in the SE also showed significant improvement in all outcomes from baseline, while any such outcomes in the CG were comparable from baseline (SBP: 144.1 to 145.1 mmHg; p = .23; DBP: 84.3 to 87.6 mmHg; p = .90).

Conclusions: The stepping exercise examined is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for blood pressure control in female older adults with stage 1 hypertension. This exercise also resulted in improvements in physical performance and quality of life.

Keywords: aging; female; hypertension; physical performance.