The effects of circuit-based resistance training on blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and body composition in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundThe global aging population has led to a public health crisis, with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, arterial stiffness, and obesity becoming major concerns. Resistance training (RT) has been shown to improve cardiovascular health, but traditional RT has certain limitations.Objective...

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Main Authors: Zhongxu Hu, Shihua Jiang, Chenhao Hu, Boao Shen, Jinfa Gu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Physiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1609013/full
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author Zhongxu Hu
Shihua Jiang
Chenhao Hu
Boao Shen
Jinfa Gu
author_facet Zhongxu Hu
Shihua Jiang
Chenhao Hu
Boao Shen
Jinfa Gu
author_sort Zhongxu Hu
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundThe global aging population has led to a public health crisis, with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, arterial stiffness, and obesity becoming major concerns. Resistance training (RT) has been shown to improve cardiovascular health, but traditional RT has certain limitations.Objective and data sourcesThe present systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the effects of circuit-based resistance training (CBRT) on blood pressure, arterial stiffness as well as body composition in community-dwelling older adults. PubMed, Cochrane library, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science, five databases in total, were searched until January 2025. The analysis was restricted to randomized controlled trials.MethodsA total of 14 studies, involving 704 participants, were included in the meta-analysis. The primary outcomes assessed were arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and body composition.ResultsSignificant intervention effects were identified in systolic blood pressure (WMD = −6.10 mmHg, 95% CI: −8.07 to −4.12), diastolic blood pressure (WMD = −2.88 mmHg, 95% CI: −3.96 to −1.81), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (WMD = −101.81 cm/s, 95% CI: −136.92 to −66.70), percentage of body fat (WMD = −3.21%, 95% CI: −4.20 to −2.22), fat mass (WMD = −4.83 kg, 95% CI: −8.80 to −0.86), lean body mass (WMD = 1.36 kg, 95% CI: 0.83–1.89), and femoral neck bone mineral content (WMD = 0.27 g, 95% CI: 0.14–0.39). Subgroup analysis by training frequency showed that participants with high training frequency (>3 sessions/week) reduce systolic blood pressure more significantly compared to moderate to low training frequency (≤2 sessions/week) while diastolic blood pressure show no difference between subgroups.ConclusionCBRT interventions improve blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and body composition in community-dwelling older adults significantly. Additionally, three sessions of CBRT per week show a superior systolic blood pressure lowering effect.Systematic Review RegistrationPROSPERO, identifier CRD42025646360.
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spelling doaj-art-432a17178979491bb26178524c19f1b82025-08-20T02:26:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2025-05-011610.3389/fphys.2025.16090131609013The effects of circuit-based resistance training on blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and body composition in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysisZhongxu Hu0Shihua Jiang1Chenhao Hu2Boao Shen3Jinfa Gu4Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomSchool of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Physical Education, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan Province, ChinaChina Football College, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, MalaysiaBackgroundThe global aging population has led to a public health crisis, with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, arterial stiffness, and obesity becoming major concerns. Resistance training (RT) has been shown to improve cardiovascular health, but traditional RT has certain limitations.Objective and data sourcesThe present systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the effects of circuit-based resistance training (CBRT) on blood pressure, arterial stiffness as well as body composition in community-dwelling older adults. PubMed, Cochrane library, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science, five databases in total, were searched until January 2025. The analysis was restricted to randomized controlled trials.MethodsA total of 14 studies, involving 704 participants, were included in the meta-analysis. The primary outcomes assessed were arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and body composition.ResultsSignificant intervention effects were identified in systolic blood pressure (WMD = −6.10 mmHg, 95% CI: −8.07 to −4.12), diastolic blood pressure (WMD = −2.88 mmHg, 95% CI: −3.96 to −1.81), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (WMD = −101.81 cm/s, 95% CI: −136.92 to −66.70), percentage of body fat (WMD = −3.21%, 95% CI: −4.20 to −2.22), fat mass (WMD = −4.83 kg, 95% CI: −8.80 to −0.86), lean body mass (WMD = 1.36 kg, 95% CI: 0.83–1.89), and femoral neck bone mineral content (WMD = 0.27 g, 95% CI: 0.14–0.39). Subgroup analysis by training frequency showed that participants with high training frequency (>3 sessions/week) reduce systolic blood pressure more significantly compared to moderate to low training frequency (≤2 sessions/week) while diastolic blood pressure show no difference between subgroups.ConclusionCBRT interventions improve blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and body composition in community-dwelling older adults significantly. Additionally, three sessions of CBRT per week show a superior systolic blood pressure lowering effect.Systematic Review RegistrationPROSPERO, identifier CRD42025646360.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1609013/fullcommunity-dwellingagingresistance trainingcardiovascular healthbody composition
spellingShingle Zhongxu Hu
Shihua Jiang
Chenhao Hu
Boao Shen
Jinfa Gu
The effects of circuit-based resistance training on blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and body composition in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Frontiers in Physiology
community-dwelling
aging
resistance training
cardiovascular health
body composition
title The effects of circuit-based resistance training on blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and body composition in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full The effects of circuit-based resistance training on blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and body composition in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr The effects of circuit-based resistance training on blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and body composition in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed The effects of circuit-based resistance training on blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and body composition in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short The effects of circuit-based resistance training on blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and body composition in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort effects of circuit based resistance training on blood pressure arterial stiffness and body composition in community dwelling older adults a systematic review and meta analysis
topic community-dwelling
aging
resistance training
cardiovascular health
body composition
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1609013/full
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