Immediate Cardiovascular Responses to Isometric Handgrip Exercise in Young Adults in Puri, Odisha: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Hypertension is a major contributor to global morbidity and mortality and is increasingly prevalent among young adults. While aerobic exercise is well established in blood pressure (BP) management, the role of isometric handgrip exercise (IHE) remains underexplored. Objective To evaluate the immediate effects of a single session of IHE on cardiovascular parameters such as BP and pulse rate (PR) in healthy young adults. Methods This analytical cross-sectional study included 87 normotensive individuals aged 21-26 years. Participants performed a standardized IHE protocol at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction. BP and PR were recorded at baseline, during, and one hour post exercise. Statistical analysis was performed using repeated measures analysis of variance and paired t-tests, with p ≤ 0.05 considered significant. Results Significant increases in systolic BP, diastolic BP, pulse pressure, mean arterial pressure, and PR were observed during exercise, with p-values < 0.001. After one hour, all BP parameters showed significant reductions compared to baseline. PR increased immediately post exercise and decreased after one hour, which was also found to be statistically significant with a p-value less than 0.001. Conclusion A single session of IHE produces transient elevations, followed by modest reductions in BP and PR. These findings suggest that IHE may serve as a simple, time-efficient, and non-pharmacological approach for cardiovascular health improvement.