What is the impact of resistance exercise on systolic blood pressure at rest?

Resistance exercise generally has a nuanced impact on systolic blood pressure at rest. While it is often observed that immediate effects of strength training can lead to temporary elevations in blood pressure during the activity, the long-term effects of regular resistance exercise tend to show minimal changes in resting systolic blood pressure for most individuals.

The rationale behind the assertion of "no change" is that after consistent engagement in resistance training, many people experience improvements in cardiovascular health, potentially leading to better overall vascular function. However, these benefits may not always translate into significant reductions in resting systolic blood pressure. In some cases, individuals may see slight decreases, but these changes are often not clinically significant enough to be categorized as outright decreases.

In contrast, options suggesting a moderate or significant decrease imply a more pronounced impact than is typically observed, while claiming a minimal decrease might oversell the effect. Ultimately, the outcomes of resistance training on blood pressure tend to vary widely among individuals, making "no change" the most accurate representation regarding the average effects seen in a general population over time.