Recommendations Summary

HTN: Physical Activity 2008

Click here to see the explanation of recommendation ratings (Strong, Fair, Weak, Consensus, Insufficient Evidence) and labels (Imperative or Conditional). To see more detail on the evidence from which the following recommendations were drawn, use the hyperlinks in the Supporting Evidence Section below.

• Recommendation(s)

  Physical Activity

  Dietitians should encourage individuals to engage in aerobic physical activity for at least 30 minutes per day on most days of the week, as it reduces systolic blood pressure by approximately 4 - 9 mmHg.

  Rating: Consensus
  Imperative

  • Risks/Harms of Implementing This Recommendation

    Physician consultation is warranted prior to beginning any exercise program.

  • Conditions of Application

    No conditions specified.

  • Potential Costs Associated with Application

    None.

  • Recommendation Narrative

    • Based on the JNC 7 report, all individuals should engage in aerobic physical activity for at least 30 minutes per day on most days of the week as this may lower systolic blood pressure by 4 - 9 mmHg.

  • Recommendation Strength Rationale

    The ADA Hypertension Expert Work Group concurs with the recommendations from the JNC 7,  regarding physical activity.

    • Updated from The Sixth Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure.  Arch Intern Med 1997; 157:2413-46.
    • Published in The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure.  JAMA 2003;289:2560-71.

  • Minority Opinions

    Consensus reached.

• Supporting Evidence

  The recommendations were created from the evidence analysis on the following questions. To see detail of the evidence analysis, click the blue hyperlinks below (recommendations rated consensus will not have supporting evidence linked).

  • References
  • References not graded in Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence Analysis Process

    The Seventh Report of the Joint National Commitee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure, NIH Publication No. 04-5230, August 2004, produced by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in cooperation with the National High Blood Pressure Education Program.

    Available at:   

    http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/hypertension/

    To access the pdf of the JNC 7, click here: 

    http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/hypertension/jnc7full.htm