A first-of-its-kind scientific study found huge benefits to the sport-specific training.
Regular exercise is a great way of keeping you fit and healthy. The physical benefits of having improved cardio capacity and better muscle strength can be apparent day to day.
The endorphin rush and sense of achievement that comes with a successful workout can also help your mental health, while there are lots of social benefits if you are exercising with others too. And new research has discovered a huge benefit to training in one specific sport – and it kicks in quickly.
A study on boxing found that within just six weeks of 40-minute workouts, people can see their blood pressure slashed by more than through medication. The exercise regime was seen to reduce the risk of hypertension and improve blood pressure function.
The research, which was published in the peer-reviewed journal Sports earlier this year, involved young adults with stage 1 high blood pressure taking part in three exercise sessions each week. The 24 participants, with an average age of 25, were randomly assigned either boxing training or other workouts in a control group.
As reported by The Express, the boxers completed 10 three-minute rounds of working the heavy bag or mitt work, with a 60 second break in between. The others worked on flexibility and balance exercises on the same three-on-one-off schedule.
The systolic blood pressure of those in the boxing group dropped by an average of 16mmHg, while their diastolic blood pressure dropped by 10mmHg.
Researchers said the reductions were comparable to or greater than those typically achieved through medication. Significant decreases like this “translate to a lower risk of heart attack and stroke”, according to the team.
The study, which is is the first randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effects of boxing training on cardiovascular and vascular health in this population, was co-authored Professor Alvaro Gurovich, of the University of Texas at El Paso in the US.
He 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.”
Prof Gurovich believes that the findings could be a much more positive alternative to “a lifetime of medication” for young adults that are currently heading towards hypertension.
He said: “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.”
Each of the 24 participants had stage one hypertension, with readings of 130-139mmHg systolic and 80-89 mmHg diastolic. The findings suggest people with similar blood pressure levels could see a reduction of more than 10 per cent from the boxing regime.
Mild high blood pressure can, if left untreated, progress and cause damage that increases the risk of serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes.
The research team 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.”
