Six weeks of boxing training can help reduce blood pressure and improve blood vessel function, a study found. Young adults with stage 1 high blood pressure were recruited for a trial of an exercise regimen consisting of three sessions per week. They completed 10 three-minute rounds of exercise on a heavy bag or with mitt work, interspersed with one-minute rest periods.
Those who took part in the boxing sessions saw their systolic blood pressure drop by an average of 16 mmHg and their diastolic blood pressure drop by 10 mmHg. Researchers said the reductions were comparable to or greater than those typically achieved through medication. Study co-author Professor Alvaro Gurovich, of the University of Texas at El Paso in the US, said: “What we’re showing is that boxing training is not just a fun workout; it can actually change how your blood vessels work.
“After just six weeks, the blood vessels of our participants were more flexible, more responsive and carrying more blood. That directly translates into a lower risk of heart attack and stroke.
“For young people who are already on a path toward hypertension, this could be a powerful and sustainable alternative to starting a lifetime of medication.”
The study included 24 young people, with an average age of 25, who were assigned to either boxing sessions or flexibility and balance exercises on the same schedule.
All had stage one hypertension, with readings of 130-139mmHg systolic and 80-89 mmHg diastolic.
If left untreated, mild high blood pressure can progress and cause damage that increases the risk of serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes.
The researchers said future studies should examine whether the same benefits can be achieved in older populations.
Prof Gurovich added: “Hypertension is a primary contributor to heart disease, stroke and premature death, and many young adults who are in the early stages of the condition are not aware that they have it.
“These findings could reshape how clinicians approach one of the world’s most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors.”
The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Sports.
