Guided walking is more effective than suggested walking in reducing the blood pressure of hypertensive sedentary subjects and in modifying their lifestyle

Objective: The study has compared the effects of a program of guided walking (GW) and of a program of suggested walking (SW) on the blood pressure and on the lifestyle of sedentary hypertensive subjects. Methods: Participants were sedentary and had a systolic pressure ≥ 140 mmHg. They were divided in a group of GW (n = 93) and of SW (n = 99). Blood pressure, weight, BMI, waist circumference and walking speed were assessed at enrollment and after 6 months. Sixteen months after the end of the project, the subjects were contacted to check if they were maintaining the walking activity. Results: During the 6 months, the weekly walking time was 300 min in the GW group and 120 in the SW group. Seventy subjects of the GW group and 88 of the SW group completed the program. Significantly decrease in weight, BMI and waist circumference was observed in both groups. Systolic and diastolic pressure decreased by 7.5 and 1.9 mmHg in the GW group and by 4.1 and 2.1 mmHg in the WS. The decrease in systolic pressure was significantly higher in the subjects of GW group. Sixteen months after the end of the study, 54 subjects of the WG and 30 of the SG declared to maintain a walking habit. Conclusion: Both programs resulted in significant reductions of systolic and diastolic pressure. The reduction of systolic pressure was significantly higher in the subjects who followed the GW program. The GW program was also more effective than the SW program in modifying the lifestyle of the participants.