Clinically Meaningful Blood Pressure Reductions With Low Intensity Isometric Handgrip Exercise. A Randomized Trial

Abstract

There exists no examination of what is the minimum anti-hypertensive threshold intensity for isometric exercise training. Twenty two normotensive participants were randomly assigned to training intensities at either 5 % or 10 % of their maximal contraction. Twenty participants completed the study. Clinical meaningful, but not statistically significant, reductions in systolic blood pressure were observed in both 5 % and 10 % groups –4.04 mm Hg (95 % CI –8.67 to +0.59, p=0.08) and –5.62 mm Hg (95 % CI –11.5 to +0.29, p=0.06) respectively after 6 weeks training. No diastolic blood pressure reductions were observed in either 5 % –0.97 mm Hg (95 % CI –2.56 to +0.62, p=0.20) or 10 % MVC +1.8 mm Hg (95 % CI –1.29 to +4.89, p=0.22) groups respectively after training. In those unable to complete isometric exercise at the traditional 30 % intensity, our results suggest there is no difference between 5 and 10 % groups and based on the principle of regression to the mean, this could mean both interventions induce a similar placebo-effect.

Handgrip strength is positively related to blood pressure and hypertension risk: results from the National Health and nutrition examination survey

“…Although most evidence indicates that greater handgrip strength is associated with lower BP [ 16 – 19 ], some of them are limited to small sample size studies [ 19 ]. And other studies did not find this association [ 20 , 21 ].…”

The effect of isometric handgrip training on blood pressure

“…BPS increases almost linearly with age, with 90% probability developing hypertension [7,14]. The reduction in BPS and BPD ≥2 mmHg is considered clinically meaningful, since it is associated with significant risk reduction in the incidence of heart failure among normo-and hypertensive individuals [15]. 2 mmHg reduction in BPS decreases stroke and coronary heart disease deaths rate by 6% and 4%, respectively; reduction of 5 mmHg will further cause reductions of 14% and 9%, respectively [26].…”

Significance of arterial stiffness in Tridosha analysis: A pilot study

“…Arterial stiffness was accepted as an indicator of cardiovascular risk assessment and the arterial stiffness measured from pulse wave velocity using cfPWV is considered as gold standard [28] . The stiffness index measured from PPG was closely associated to pulse wave velocity [29] and many studies were done using these techniques. In the present study, we aimed at studying the significance of SI and RI measured across Tridoshas wherein SI corresponds to arterial stiffness and RI corresponds to endothelial function [25] .…”