title: Walking Workstation Use Reduces Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Adults With Prehypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The acute effect of low-intensity walking on blood pressure (BP) is unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine if the acute use of a walking workstation reduces ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) in prehypertensive men and women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten prehypertensive adults participated in a randomized, cross-over study that included a control workday and a walking workstation workday. ABP was measured for 7 hour during the workday and for 6 hour after work.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both systolic BP (SBP) (134 ± 14 vs. 137 ± 16 mmHg; P = .027) and diastolic BP (DBP) (79 ± 10 vs. 82 ± 12 mmHg; P = .001) were lower on the walking workstation day. Postwork hours (4:00 PM-10:00 PM), SBP (129 ± 13 vs. 133 ± 14 mmHg; P = .008), and DBP (74 ± 11 vs. 78 ± 13 mmHg; P = .001) were also lower on the walking workstation day. DBP load was significantly lower during the walking workstation day, with only 14% of the readings above 90 mmHg compared with 22% of the control day readings (P = .037).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Accumulation of very-light-intensity physical activity (~2 METs) over the course of a single work day using a walking workstation may reduce BP burden in prehypertensive individuals.
authors.affiliation: Healthy Lifestyles Research Center, School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ.
authors.forename: Zachary S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Zeigler
authors.forename: Pamela D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Swan
authors.forename: Dharini M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Bhammar
authors.forename: Glenn A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Gaesser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058246:Prehypertension / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology