title: 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.
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Technology, University of New England, Armidale, Australia. nsmart2@une.edu.au.
authors.forename: N Cl
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Inder
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jesulola
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: McFarlane
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Smart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged