Hypertension is the leading cardiovascular disease in the Western world, affecting approximately one in four Americans. 1 The prevalence of hypertension, a major risk factor for heart disease, has prompted abundant research and heightened public health concern. Mild hypertension is a state of elevated blood pressure in which a systolic pressure is 140 to 159 mmHg or a diastolic pressure is 90 to 99 mmHg. 2 This abnormally high blood pressure is influenced by genetic, metabolic, and behavioral factors. 2

Physical inactivity has been associated with hypertension. 3 Both physical inactivity and hypertension contribute to the development of coronary heart disease, America's number one killer. 3 Regular aerobic exercise has generally been associated with a decrease in blood pressure. 4 Strength training, or resistive exercise, has a varied response on blood pressure. Although blood pressure increases during resistive exercise, 5 long-term studies have shown strength training programs may reduce blood pressure6 or have no adverse effect. 7 Research has shown the 24-hour effects of strength training do not negatively or positively influence blood pressure. 8'9 Because of limitations associated with short-term blood pressure studies, this investigation was conducted to determine the shortterm effect of a single bout of strength training on the systolic and diastolic blood pressure of mildly hypertensive men.