Isometric handgrip training lowered resting systolic BP in young women, though high baseline handgrip strength attenuated this hypotensive effect (r=0.79, P=0.007).
RCT (n=20)
randomly assigned
Does unilateral isometric handgrip training reduce resting blood pressure in young women?
Isometric handgrip training lowers resting systolic BP in young women, though the hypotensive effect is attenuated in individuals with higher baseline cardiovascular reactivity and muscle strength.
Effect estimate: r = 0.79
p-value: p=0.007
ABSTRACT Objective Isometric resistance training may reduce resting blood pressure (BP); however, the magnitude of this effect varies among individual subjects and few studies attempted to predict it. This study aimed to investigate the potential hypotensive effects of isometric training and their association with cardiovascular reactivity to acute isometric exercise and muscle strength in young women. Methods In this randomized trial, twenty young women were randomly assigned to either the training (n = 10) or control (n = 10) group. Women from the training group performed unilateral isometric handgrip sessions for 8 weeks (4 × 2 min at 25% of maximal voluntary contraction MVC; 3 days/week). Cardiovascular reactivity to acute isometric exercise and MVC were measured at baseline. Resting BP was assessed during and after the intervention. Results Resting systolic BP significantly lowered only in the training group. The change in resting systolic BP following an 8-week intervention was significantly associated with the systolic BP and diastolic BP reactivity to the acute exercise at baseline during set 3 and 4 (P <.05). The handgrip MVC was associated with changes in systolic BP (r = 0.79, P =.007), diastolic BP (r = 0.68, P =.032), and mean arterial pressure (r = 0.79, P =.006). These results indicated that high cardiovascular reactivity and strength attenuate the hypotensive effects following isometric training in young women. Conclusions The hypotensive effects following isometric training may be identified by BP reactivity to acute isometric exercise or handgrip strength in young women.
Yamagata et al. (Sat,) conducted a rct in resting blood pressure (n=20). unilateral isometric handgrip training vs. control was evaluated on Change in resting systolic BP and its association with handgrip maximal voluntary contraction (r = 0.79, p=0.007). Isometric handgrip training lowered resting systolic BP in young women, though high baseline handgrip strength attenuated this hypotensive effect (r=0.79, P=0.007).
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