Effect of Aerobic Exercise Programme on Blood Pressure Among Hypertensive Adults in Sokoto State

Hypertension remains one of the leading causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in Nigeria, and physical activity, particularly aerobic exercise, has been consistently identified as an effective non-pharmacological management strategy. This study examines the effect of a structured aerobic exercise programme on blood pressure levels among hypertensive adults attending a government general hospital in Sokoto State, North West Nigeria. A quasi-experimental pre-test post-test design with a control group was employed, with 60 hypertensive patients aged 35 to 65 years randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group participated in a 12-week supervised aerobic exercise programme comprising brisk walking and light jogging for 45 minutes per session, three sessions per week, while the control group continued with routine pharmacological management. Blood pressure was measured using a calibrated digital sphygmomanometer at baseline, week six, and week twelve. Findings reveal statistically significant reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the experimental group at week twelve, with mean reductions of 11.4 mmHg and 7.2 mmHg respectively compared to non-significant changes in the control group. Adherence to the exercise programme is identified as the strongest predictor of blood pressure reduction. Recommendations include integration of supervised aerobic exercise into hypertension management protocols at primary health care facilities and training of community health workers in exercise prescription for hypertensive patients. Keywords: aerobic exercise, blood pressure, hypertension, adults, Sokoto State