Effect of 4-week leisure time physical activity (walking vs. chair aerobics) on blood pressure in pre-hypertensive young adults

Objectives: Pre-hypertension is a clinically significant risk factor for future hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Early lifestyle interventions such as leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) can prevent progression to hypertension. This study aimed to compare the effects of walking and chair aerobics on blood pressure (BP) in pre-hypertensive young adults. Materials and Methods: Forty pre-hypertensive young adults aged 18–25 years were randomly assigned to two groups: Group A (walking) and Group B (chair aerobics), with 20 participants each. The intervention consisted of 30-min sessions, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks. Outcomes included systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP), rate pressure product (RPP), and body mass index (BMI). Data were analyzed using paired and unpaired t -tests. Results: Both groups showed significant reductions in SBP, DBP, and RPP. In Group A, SBP reduced from 125.5 to 119.2 mmHg and DBP from 82.0 to 77.8 mmHg ( p < 0.05). In Group B, SBP reduced from 125.7 to 117.5 mmHg and DBP from 82.2 to 78.7 mmHg ( p < 0.05). RPP was also significantly reduced in both groups. No significant changes were noted in BMI. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups post-intervention. Conclusion: Both walking and chair aerobics are effective in reducing BP and RPP in pre-hypertensive young adults. Chair aerobics can serve as an alternative for individuals with limited mobility or space constraints. These findings support the integration of LTPA into early hypertension prevention strategies.