Trial results comparing heat therapy to aerobic exercise training for hypertension were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2025-06-04. The study reported minimal mean changes in blood pressure, with the heat therapy group showing a mean reduction of -1 mmHg in one measurement.
Background
Hypertension is a chronic condition increasing cardiovascular disease risk. Lifestyle modifications, including exercise, are key to management. This trial explored if heat therapy (hot water immersion) could offer comparable benefits to aerobic exercise in reducing blood pressure for elevated or Stage 1 hypertension.
Trial design
This completed Phase NA clinical trial enrolled 44 participants with Hypertension, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Arterial Hypertension. It compared 30 sessions of heat therapy (hot water immersion) against 30 sessions of traditional aerobic exercise training, focusing on blood pressure reduction and arterial stiffness.
Key results
The study measured changes in blood pressure and arterial stiffness after 30 sessions of intervention:
- Blood Pressure Reduction: Change in Systolic and Diastolic Ambulatory Blood Pressure (mmHg)
- For the Heat Therapy Group, the mean change was -1 mmHg.
- For the Aerobic Exercise Group, the mean change was 0 mmHg.
- Another measurement for the Heat Therapy Group showed a mean change of 0 mmHg.
- Another measurement for the Aerobic Exercise Group showed a mean change of 1 mmHg.
- Arterial Stiffness: Change in Carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (m/s)
- For the Heat Therapy Group, the mean change was -0.0 m/s.
- For the Aerobic Exercise Group, the mean change was -0.1 m/s.
What this means
The reported mean changes in blood pressure and arterial stiffness were very small in both groups. Without statistical analyses (p-values, confidence intervals), the clinical significance of these minor changes is unclear. Results suggest neither intervention, as applied, led to substantial reductions.
Source
Information for these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov. The results for study NCT03557502, "Heat Therapy Versus Exercise Training in Hypertension", were posted on 2025-06-04 on clinicaltrials.gov.