The Impact of Applying Different Blood Pressure Cut-Points for Physical Activity Participation Clearance

The primary objective of this study was to determine the impact of applying opinion-based blood pressure (BP) cut-points on exercise clearance rates versus the evidence-based BP cut-point of 160/90 mmHg. All participants (n= 1670) participated in moderate-to-vigorous-to-maximal intensity physical activity (PA) with no adverse events. The percentage cleared for each of the opinion-based BP cut-points was: 130/80 mmHg (85.3%), 140/90 mmHg (93.4%), 144/90 mmHg (94.6%), 144/94 mmHg (96.3%), 150/100 mmHg (98.6%), versus the evidence-based BP cut-point of 160/90 mmHg (95.6%). Those not cleared were individuals who undoubtedly would benefit from PA participation since they were significantly older, had a higher BMI and were less aerobically fit than participants who were below the cut-points. The use of some opinion-based BP cut-points currently used by many fitness agencies provides an unnecessary significant and burdensome barrier to PA participation and it is recommended that a cut-point of 160/94 mmHg be used.