Yoga as a therapeutic approach to mental health in university students: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: The purpose of this study has been to analyze the efficacy of a yoga-based intervention on stress, emotional wellbeing, state anxiety and trait anxiety in university students. Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial. The sample consisted of 129 university students, of which 65 underwent a yoga training for 12 weeks and a control group that did not carry out any type of intervention. The primary outcome was stress, which was collected through The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The secondary outcomes were emotional wellbeing which was measured through the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), and anxiety through State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). All variables were measured before and after the intervention. Results: Participants in the experimental group showed statistically significant improvements in the primary outcome perceived stress (Cohen's d = 0.44) and the secondary outcomes emotional wellbeing (Cohen's d = 0.47), and both state anxiety (Cohen's d = 0.38) and trait anxiety (Cohen's d = 0.80) compared to the control group that did not carry out any type of physical training. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that a 12-week yoga intervention can significantly reduce perceived stress and anxiety, and improve emotional wellbeing in university students. Initially, the experimental group (EG) reported higher levels of stress and anxiety than the control group (CG), but after the intervention, the EG experienced significant improvements compared to the CG.

Exercise and Nutrition in the Mental Health of the Older Adult Population: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

(1) Background: Global population aging is changing demographic structures and presents significant challenges for health systems, which must adapt to an increasingly elderly population. (2) Methods: The study employed a randomized controlled trial design with a total of 116 older adults aged 65 or older, randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 57) undergoing a combined resistance program and Mediterranean diet program and a control group (n = 59) who did not receive any intervention. Anxiety and depression were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), sleep quality through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and perceived stress using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). (3) Results: Statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) were observed both within and between groups in anxiety (Cohen's d = 0.38 and 0.78, respectively), depression (Cohen's d = 0.56 and 0.18, respectively), perceived stress (Cohen's d = 0.15 and 0.39, respectively), and in the PSQI domains: subjective sleep quality (Cohen's d = 1.01 and 0.53, respectively), sleep duration (Cohen's d = 0.112 and 0.53, respectively), sleep disturbances (Cohen's d = 1.92 and 0.95, respectively), use of medications (Cohen's d = 0.34 and 0.40, respectively), and the PSQI total score (Cohen's d = 0.68 and 0.49, respectively). No significant differences were observed in sleep latency or daytime dysfunction. (4) Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that resistance intervention may be an effective therapeutic option to improve mental health and sleep quality in older adults aged 65 or older, offering a non-pharmacological approach to improving overall well-being in this demographic.

Gamification in the classroom: Kahoot! As a tool for university teaching innovation.

Objectives: The purpose of this study has been to evaluate the use of gamification in the classroom, in terms of its effects on attention, concentration, creativity, and generic capabilities, for university students enrolled in a Bachelor's degree program in Physiotherapy. Methods: An experimental design was implemented, using three groups differentiated by their time of exposure to the game (0 min, 30 min, or 60 min per week). The sample consisted of 73 s-year students from a Bachelor's degree program in Physiotherapy. The theoretical content for each class was taught during a period of 4 months, reinforced by use of the Kahoot! Online platform. Selective attention and concentration were evaluated using the d2 Test of Attention; creative intelligence using the Creative Intelligence Test (CREA); and generic capabilities using the capabilities subscale of the Student Engagement Questionnaire (SEQ). Results: The study's participants had a mean age of 19.51 ± 0.9 years, and it has demonstrated that use of Kahoot! For longer periods of time, i.e., more than 60 min per day, can improve essential skills in university students, such as attention, creativity, critical thinking, self-managed learning, adaptability, problem solving, and computer literacy. This study's results show that integrating Kahoot! Into the educational environment, especially with longer sessions that allow for deeper immersion in the game, produces benefits by stimulating various cognitive aspects and enhancing complex skills. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that use of Kahoot! Improves key skills such as attention, creativity, and critical thinking, especially when longer sessions are used. It is also suggested that its use should be balanced with other educational activities, in order to achieve comprehensive development for the students.

Mindfulness to improve the mental health of university students. A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis was to analyze the effects of a mindfulness program on mental health in university students. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using the databases Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science and CINAHL. The selected studies had to incorporate a mindfulness intervention in university students. The methodological quality of the collected articles was evaluated using the PEDro scale. Results: We initially identified 321 studies, of which 21 were included in this review. The interventions focused on mindfulness with durations ranging from 8 weeks to 3 months. The results demonstrated significant effects of a mindfulness intervention on mental health in university students. Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis found that mindfulness is effective for improving the mental health of college students. Systematic Review Registration: identifier: CRD42023441453.

Addressing depression in older adults with Alzheimer's through cognitive behavioral therapy: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to provide an analysis of the published data about the effects of cognitive behavioral therapies on the depression of older adults with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Methods: This study was performed following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The search was performed between March and April 2023, using four electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Cinhal and Scopus. Different keywords combined with Boolean operators were utilized. Only 11 articles were included out of the initial 212. Results: Cognitive behavioral therapy was found to reduce depression in individuals with Alzheimer's, including treatments with low frequency but a longer intervention time. Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis found that the psychosocial therapy cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in improving depression in individuals with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's. However, results are inconclusive due to the disparity of the findings and the heterogeneity of the applied protocols, so more studies are needed on this topic. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=416396, CRD42023416396.

Effectiveness of Therapeutic Education in Patients with Cancer Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

(1) Objective: To review the existing evidence on pain education in patients with pain derived from an oncological process. (2) Methods: A systematic review was conducted using the databases Pubmed, Web of Science, PEDro, and Scopus. The selected studies had to incorporate instruction about the neurophysiology of pain into their educational program. The target population was cancer patients who had suffered pain for at least one month. The methodological quality of the articles collected was assessed using the PEDro scale. (3) Results: Some 698 studies were initially identified, of which 12 were included in this review. Four different models of pain education programs were found in the studies' interventions. Pain intensity, pain experience, quality of life, pain tolerance, and catastrophism were the variables that appeared most frequently. (4) Conclusions: This review demonstrates that pain education in patients with cancer pain may produce effects such as decreased pain intensity and catastrophism. Knowledge about pain also seems to increase. However, no benefit was reported for patients' overall quality of life. Therefore, more research is needed to clarify the effects of these interventions on the oncology population.

Enhancing Cognition in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment through High-Intensity Functional Training: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

Physical exercise is a very promising non-pharmacological approach to prevent or reduce the cognitive decline that occurs in people aged 60 years or older. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a high-intensity intervallic functional training (HIFT) program on cognitive functions in an elderly Colombian population with mild cognitive impairment. A controlled clinical trial was developed with a sample of 132 men and women aged >65 years, linked to geriatric care institutions, which were systematically blind randomized. The intervention group (IG) received a 3-month HIFT program (n = 64) and the control group (CG) (n = 68) received general physical activity recommendations and practiced manual activities. The outcome variables addressed cognition (MoCA), attention (TMTA), executive functions (TMTB), verbal fluency (VFAT test), processing speed (Digit Symbol Substitution Test-DSST), selective attention and concentration (d2 test). After the analysis, improvement was found in the IG with significant differences with respect to the CG in the level of cognitive impairment (MoCA), attention (TMTA), verbal fluency and concentration (p < 0.001). Executive functions (TMTB) showed differences in both groups, being slightly higher in the IG (p = 0.037). However, no statistically significant results were found for selective attention (p = 0.55) or processing speed (p = 0.24). The multiple analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) showed the influence of the education level on all cognition assessments (p = 0.026); when adjusting for sociodemographic variables, the influence of the intervention remained significant (p < 0.001). This study empirically validates that the implementation of a HIFT program has a positive effect on cognitive functions in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment. Therefore, professionals specialized in the care of this population could consider including functional training programs as an essential part of their therapeutic approaches. The distinctive features of this program, such as its emphasis on functional training and high intensity, appear to be relevant for stimulating cognitive health in the geriatric population.

Effects of High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT) on the Functional Capacity, Frailty, and Physical Condition of Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Physical exercise has been established as an intervention in the integral approach for the physical, functional, and social health of older adults. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a high-intensity functional training (HIFT) program on the physical condition and functional capacity of an elderly Colombian population with mild cognitive impairment. This research corresponds to a blind randomized controlled clinical trial. A total of 169 men and women aged over 65 years were evaluated and distributed in two groups: the experimental group that received a 12-week HIFT intervention (n = 82) and the control group (n = 87) that received general recommendations on the benefits of physical exercise. The outcome variables included physical condition, assessed using the Senior Fitness battery (SNB); Fried's frailty phenotype was applied, and gait and balance were assessed using the Tinetti scale. For the functional variables, activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and advanced activities of daily living were evaluated. All variables were measured pre- and post-intervention. Statistically significant improvements were observed in the IG for gait stability and balance (p < 0.001), as well as for independence in activities of daily living (p = 0.003), and instrumental and advanced activities (p < 0.001). Likewise, greater functionality was found when assessed with the SNB (p < 0.001), except for upper limb strength. The frailty classification did not show changes post-intervention (p = 0.170) nor in the group x time interaction. MANCOVA analysis showed that regardless of gender, health level, age, BMI, cognition, and health level, the HIFT intervention produced better results in functional capacity, balance, and gait (F = 0.173, p < 0.001, Wilks' λ = 88.231).

Does an Association among Sarcopenia and Metabolic Risk Factors Exist in People Older Than 65 Years? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

Sarcopenia is defined as the generalized and progressive loss of skeletal muscle strength and mass that may be affected by metabolic factors, although this relationship has been poorly studied. The aim of this review and meta-analysis was to analyze the relationship among the different metabolic risk factors and sarcopenia in people older than 65 years. Following the PRISMA 2020 guide, we searched for articles that studied the relationship among sarcopenia and metabolic risk factors in adults over 65 years of age, published between 2012 and 2022 in four databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Plus, and CINAHL. A total of 370 articles were identified in the initial search, of which 13 articles were selected for inclusion in this review. It was observed that metabolic risk factors such as Body Mass Index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, or triglycerides had a significant association with sarcopenia. There is evidence of the association of different metabolic risk factors with sarcopenia in adults over 65 years of age, so it is necessary to carry out studies that investigate different strategies that reduce the appearance of sarcopenia, and with it, the incidence of metabolic diseases.

Effectiveness of Telemedicine for Reducing Cardiovascular Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. There are six cardiovascular risk factors: diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, overweight, sedentary lifestyle and smoking. Due to the low attendance of healthy people in the health system, the use of telemedicine can influence the acquisition of a heart-healthy lifestyle. OBJECTIVE: this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effectiveness of telemedicine and e-health in reducing cardiovascular risk. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out using the PubMed, Scopus, Cinhal and WOS databases. Randomized controlled studies between 2017 and 2022 in which telemedicine was used to reduce any of the risk factors were included. The methodological quality was assessed using the "PEDro" scale. RESULTS: In total, 763 studies were obtained; after the review, 28 target articles were selected and finally grouped as follows: 13 studies on diabetes, six on hypertension, seven on obesity and two on physical activity. For all of the risk factors, a small effect of the intervention was seen. CONCLUSIONS: although the current evidence is heterogeneous regarding the statistically significant effects of telemedicine on various cardiovascular risk factors, its clinical relevance is undeniable; therefore, its use is recommended as long as the necessary infrastructure exists.

Effects of Mind-Body Training as a Mental Health Therapy in Adults with Diabetes Mellitus Type II: A Systematic Review.

The increase in the prevalence and disease burden of diabetes has highlighted the need to strengthen a comprehensive care system that includes mental health treatment. A systematic review was carried out to analyze the effectiveness of mind-body training as a therapy for the mental health management of adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science databases were consulted between November and December 2022. Eight articles were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Only randomized controlled trials were included. The interventions focused on mindfulness and yoga with variable durations of between 8 weeks and 6 months. Four of the included studies observed statistically significant changes (p < 0.05) in anxiety. Six articles determined that mind-body training was effective for treating depression. Finally, five articles found favorable effects on stress, while one did not observe changes at 8 weeks of intervention or after 1 year of follow-up. The evidence supports the use of mind-body training to reduce stress, depression, and anxiety levels in the adult population with T2DM, which makes this type of training a valuable intervention to be included in an integral approach to diabetic pathology.

Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises as a Treatment for Urinary Incontinence in Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Women frequently suffer from urinary incontinence due to atrophic changes in the urogenital tract. Recommended conservative treatment includes evaluation of pelvic-floor strength and the functional use of pelvic-floor-muscle (PFM) training. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a search was conducted in the electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for articles with at least one group performing PFM exercises in post-menopausal women with urinary incontinence. Eight articles were included, and each study had at least one group of PFM exercise-based intervention alone or combined. The volume or duration, frequency, and number of sessions were heterogeneous. All the studies reported significant differences in favor of PFM exercise in strength, quality of life, and/or severity of urinary incontinence. PFM exercise is a highly recommended intervention to treat urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women. However, more research is needed to establish specific factors such as dose-response relationships and to standardize methods for measuring effects.

Effects of Myofascial Release Using Finding-Oriented Manual Therapy Combined with Foam Roller on Physical Performance in University Athletes. A Randomized Controlled Study.

Sport is a science of constant reinvention that is always searching for strategies to improve performance. Objective: This study seeks to compare the effects of myofascial release with Findings-Oriented Orthopedic Manual Therapy (OMT) combined with Foam Roller (FR), versus FR by itself, on the physical performance of university athletes. A randomized controlled study was conducted with a total of twenty-nine university athletes, measuring Range of Motion (ROM), jump height and flight time, strength and dynamic flexibility using Goniometer pro, CMJ protocol in OptoGait, 1 Repetition Maximum (1RM) and Mean Propulsive Velocity (MPV) and the Sit and Reach (V) test, correspondingly. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov prior to the initial measurement of the participants under the code NCT05347303. Through a univariate analysis, together with an analysis of independent groups with ANOVA and an analysis of covariance, it was evidenced that OMT combined with FR generated more and better effects in all the evaluated ROM, jump height and flight time, RM and VMP tests. Finally, it was found that OMT combined with FR is better when it is desired to improve ROM, muscle power, strength and flexibility, while FR alone only improves dynamic flexibility.

Effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on older adults with sleep disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to analyze the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based program on sleep quality in healthy non-institutionalized older people. Methods: This study was conducted following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items For Systematic Reviews And Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The search was conducted during May and June 2023 using four databases: Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL. Different keywords combined with Boolean operators were used. Only 10 articles of the initial 177 were included. In the study, the standardized mean difference (SMD) was used along with a 95% confidence interval to measure the effect. Heterogeneity among the studies, assessed using Cochran's Q-test and the I2 statistic was found to be low, leading to the use of a fixed-effects model in the analysis. The effect size was expressed as Hedge'g. Furthermore, a subgroup analysis was conducted, taking into account the various tools used to assess sleep conditions. Results: Mindfulness was found to reduce poor sleep quality in people with both long-term and short-term sleep disorders. Weighting effect model Hedge'g = -0.344 with a 95% confidence interval ranging from -0.425 to -0.263. In all cases, statistically significant results were observed, as well as moderate and negative effect sizes according to the Hedge's g index: -0.326 for Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), -0.343 for Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and -0.28 for Sleep Onset Latency (SOL). Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis found that mindfulness can be used to remedy poor sleep quality in older people, so it could be a viable treatment option for insomnia or other problems related to poor sleep quality in this population.

Rhythmic Physical Activity and Global Cognition in Older Adults with and without Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review.

Growing evidence suggests that rhythmic physical activity (PA) improves cognitive function in both persons with normal brain aging and with cognitive impairment. This study aims to conduct a systematic review of randomized controlled trials assessing the effects of rhythmic PA over global cognition in older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment. Different keywords related to the topic and Boolean operators were used in the Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases. A total of 11 articles that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed; all of them assessed global cognition using either the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) or the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Five studies showed beneficial effects over global cognition. All studies had at least one experimental group with rhythmic training, and the interventions evidenced a great diversity of rhythmic stimuli, as well as a varied frequency, duration and type of activities. The heterogeneity of the protocols could be the reason for the mixed findings. Future studies with more precise exercise prescriptions are needed to establish whether rhythmic PA has beneficial effects on global cognition.

Qigong for mental health and sleep quality in postmenopausal women: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Menopause is one of the stages in a woman's life that affects her psychological health, the most frequent being anxiety and depression. In addition, another problem related to this stage is the lack of sleep that causes a decrease in the quality of sleep. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to analyze the effectiveness of a Qigong exercise program on sleep quality, anxiety, and depression in Spanish postmenopausal women. METHODS: A total of 125 women were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG) (n = 63) that carried out a Qigong exercise program for 12 weeks, or a control group (CG) (n = 62), which did not perform any type of intervention. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: Women who underwent an intervention program experienced significant improvements for all measured variables, except for the use of sleeping medication and daytime dysfunctions that did not show any significant effect with respect to the group and group × time interaction. CONCLUSIONS: After an intervention based on a BaDuanJin Qigong exercise program for 12 weeks, improvements were observed in sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, the total score of the PSQI, anxiety and depression in postmenopausal Spanish women.

Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Quality of Life, Mental Health, and Level of Physical Activity in Colombian University Workers: A Longitudinal Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a strong influence on people's quality of life, and the different restrictive measures during the phases of the pandemic have had consequences for physical and mental health. This study determined the changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL), sleep quality, depression symptoms (DS), and physical activity (PA) level of middle-aged Colombian university personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis was performed following a longitudinal design on a sample of 354 people at four points before and during the pandemic. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the SF-12v2, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS) were included in an online survey. The measurements showed a decrease in quality of life with respect to PCS from 91.66 ± 10.78 to 83.64 ± 17.22 (p = 0.000) and MCS from 87.57 ± 12.23 to 80.90 ± 17.31, while poor sleep quality increased from 25.99% to 47.46% (p = 0.000), with DS reaching the peak during mandatory confinement (14.69%). Regarding the level of physical activity, the period of mandatory confinement inverted the proportion, highlighting active people as a minority (32.2%). In the multivariate analysis, we adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and socioeconomic level, discarding confounding effects and their interactions with the results obtained. In conclusion, this study showed that the pandemic has had a negative impact on sleep quality, HRQoL, DS, and PA level.

Factors Associated with the Level of Physical Activity in Middle-Aged Colombian People during Lockdown in Response to COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study.

(1) Background: Due to the pandemic caused by COVID-19, mandatory confinement was declared, which generated a decrease in the practice of physical activity (PA). Based on this problem, it was proposed to study the associations between PA in relation to depressive symptoms, quality of sleep, and the quality of life of middle-aged people who work in the university context during compulsory confinement as a result of COVID-19. (2) Methods: A total of 336 middle-aged people (48 ± 6.67) participated in this analytical cross-sectional study. The variable levels of PA, quality of sleep, symptoms of depression, and quality of life were measured with the International Physical Activity Questionary (IPAQ), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS), and the SF-12v2 questionnaire, respectively. (3) Results: A logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationships between the level of PA and depressive symptoms (OR = 2.053), total sleep duration (OR = 0.495), sleep disturbances (OR = 2.414), quality of sleep (OR = 2.471), use of sleep medication (OR = 0.348), daytime dysfunction (OR = 1.809), general health (OR = 0.949), and physical functioning (OR = 0.987). (4) Conclusions: In middle-aged people, during compulsory confinement, being insufficiently active is a risk for depressive symptoms and disturbances in sleep quality.

The Effects of High-Intensity Functional Training on Cognition in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review.

(1) Background: High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT) is a new exercise modality that emphasizes multi-joint functional movements adaptable to any fitness level and promotes greater muscle recruitment. Previous studies have evaluated the positive effects of HIFT on mental and cognitive health but have not evaluated it in older people. This study aims to conduct a systematic review of randomized controlled trials assessing the effects of HIFT on general cognition in older adults with cognitive impairment. (2) Methods: Following the PRISMA 2020 guideline, articles that did a high-intensity functional physical exercise intervention on cognitive performance in older adults with mild to moderate cognitive impairment (MMSE > 10) or dementia, aged 55 years or older, published between 2011 and 2021 in five different electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, and Cochrane plus were included. (3) Results: 7 articles were included, all having general cognition as their primary outcome. All assessed general cognition using the Mini-Mental State Examination, the ADAS-Cog, or both. All studies had at least one HIFT experimental group with a frequency of 2 sessions per week and a variable duration between protocols of 12, 13, 16, and 26 weeks. Two articles showed that a progressive HIFT program improves general cognition, four articles showed no significant changes within or between groups and one article concluded that a HIFT intervention does not slow cognitive decline. (4) Conclusions: Evidence exists of the benefits of HIFT on general cognition in older adults with cognitive impairment, assessed using the MMSE, the ADAS-cog, or both. Two articles that showed improvement in cognitive function used progressive HIFT with 80% RM at 6, 12, and 1 weeks; however, in the other articles, due to the heterogeneity of intervention protocols, measurement time points, and control group activities, mixed results were evidenced

Handgrip Strength-Related Factors in a Colombian Hypertensive Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

(1) Background: This study determined the factors associated with manual grip strength in people with high blood pressure (HBP); (2) Methods: 219 subjects participated in this cross-sectional study, which evaluated muscle strength (manual dynamometer), sociodemographic factors, clinical characteristics, level of physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-IPAQ score), and depression (Zung's Depression Self-Rating Scale); (3) Results: The bivariate analysis found that handgrip strength in people with HPB was associated with sex (p = 0.000), age (p = 0.000), ethnicity (p = 0.019), smoking habits (p = 0.037), alcohol consumption (p = 0.004), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.012), weight (p = 0.000), height (p = 0.000), measurement of waist circumference (p = 0.002), depression (p = 0.041), and IPAQ score (p = 0.000). Regardless of being male or female, handgrip strength was associated with age (p = 0.009), IPAQ (p = 0.000), weight (p = 0.038), height (p = 0.000), DPB units (p = 0.043), and depression (p = 0.020). The multivariate generalized linear gamma regression model showed that the coefficient with the greatest weight, regardless of sex, was age (p = 0.043), level of physical activity (24% more at high level than at low level, p = 0.031), and depression (moderate/severe depression level) associated with lower handgrip strength (p = 0.025); (4) Conclusions: Handgrip strength showed an association with level of physical activity, age, and level of depression in a middle-aged population with HBP.