OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of a 12-week aerobic dance programme on systolic blood pressure (SBP) in stage one hypertensive adults. METHODS: This study employed an experimental research design. 36 out of 58 stage one hypertensive adults randomly assigned into experimental and control groups completed the programme. SBP was measured using a mercury sphygmomanometer at baseline and post programme. The experimental group participants trained thrice a week, 45 min per session, and at a moderate intensity, but the control group continued doing their daily routines. Data were analysed using SPSS V.20. A two-tailed t-test was used to compare the mean differences of the two groups. A p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The experimental group had a mean SBP of 143.83 +/- 6.382 mm Hg at baseline, while the control had 137.61 +/- 6.400 mm Hg. After a 12-week aerobic dance programme, the mean SBP of the experimental group reduced to 136.33 +/- 9.191 mm Hg, while that of the control group increased to 139.56 +/- 9.954 mm Hg. This implies that the 12-week aerobic dance programme reduced the SBP of the experimental group by -7.50 mm Hg while that of the control group remained more or less the same by having a marginal increment of 1.50 mm Hg. The changes were statistically significant (p < 0.002) after a 12-week aerobic dance programme. CONCLUSION: The aerobic dance programme effectively manages the SBP of stage one hypertensive adults. In Uganda, stakeholders and policymakers should consider incorporating aerobic dance as a non-pharmacological method for hypertension management protocols.

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