Exercise as a therapy to control hypertension in children.

Hypertension is not uncommon in childhood and adolescence; vascular and renal causes predominate. Non-pharmacologic therapy, including exercise, may lower blood pressure (BP). There are several articles relating to the use of exercise as a therapy for high BP. Most of these show a beneficial effect. The "dose" of exercise remains undetermined. There are no known data stating that dynamic exercise is of significant risk in childhood or adolescence. A multicenter trial of exercise is proposed to define the intensity, duration, and frequency of sessions needed to obtain optimal BP control.