title: Effect of short-term isometric handgrip training on blood pressure in middle-aged females.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of isometric handgrip training on blood pressure (BP) in middle-aged women  (47.88 ± 1.8 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Isometric handgrip training was performed over five consecutive days. In each session, the treatment group (n = 9) performed four isometric contractions of 45 seconds each at 30% of their maximal grip strength. The control group (n = 9) sat for 15 minutes without exercising, for five consecutive days. Resting systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood  pressure (DBP) were measured pre- and post-intervention. Data were analysed using a two-factor ANOVA (p ≤ 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood pressure readings were reduced in both groups (SBP: p = 0.036; DBP: p = 0.0079), however there was no interaction effect for SBP or DBP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that 15 minutes of sitting per day for five consecutive days is just as effective as isometric handgrip training for reducing BP levels. Future research is required to investigate the optimal isometric handgrip training stimulus required to reduce resting BP levels.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Sports Science, School of Physiotherapy, Sports Science and Optometry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mortimer
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: McKune
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013019:South Africa; D013997:Time Factors