AIM: Both chronic psychosocial stress and c-reactive protein (CRP) has been implicated in the aetiology of cardiovascular disease. However, the effect of aerobic training on psychosocial stress and CRP in hypertensive management in black African population is scanty and unclear. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of continuous training on psychosocial status and CRP in black African subjects with hypertension. METHODS: The study design was a randomized controlled trial. Three hundred and fifty seven male patients with mild to moderate (systolic blood pressure (SBP) between 140 to 180 and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between 90 to 109 mmHg) essential hypertension were age matched and randomly grouped into continuous and control groups. The continuous group involved in an 8 weeks continuous training (60 to 79% HR max) of between 45 minutes to 60 minutes, 3 times per week, while the control group remain sedentary. SBP, DBP, VO2max, CRP and psychosocial status were assessed. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and Pearson correlation test were used in data analysis. RESULTS: Findings of the study revealed significant effect of continuous training programme on VO2max, SBP, DBP, CRP and psychosocial status at p < 0.05. Psychosocial status is significantly and negatively correlated with CRP (-0.560). Also, Psychosocial status is significantly and positively correlated with VO2max (r = 0.399) at p < 0.01. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated a rationale bases for the adjunct therapeutic role of moderate intensity continuous exercise training in the down regulation of blood pressure, CRP and psychosocial stress in the management of hypertension.

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