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Effects of isometric handgrip training dose on resting blood pressure and resistance vessel endothelial function in normotensive women

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Abstract

Isometric handgrip (IHG) training lowers resting blood pressure (BP) in both hypertensives and normotensives, yet the effect of training dose on the magnitude of reduction and the mechanisms associated with the hypotensive response are elusive. We investigated, in normotensive women, the effects of two different doses of IHG training on resting BP, and explored improved resistance vessel endothelial function and heart rate variability (HRV) as potential mechanisms of BP reduction. Resting BP, HRV, and resistance vessel endothelial function (venous strain-gauge plethysmography with reactive hyperemia) were assessed in 32 women before and after 4 and 8 weeks of 3×/week (n = 12) or 5×/week (n = 11) IHG training (four, 2-min unilateral contractions at 30 % maximal voluntary contraction), or 0×/week control (n = 9). IHG training decreased systolic BP in the 3×/week (94 ± 6 to 91 ± 6 to 88 ± 5 mmHg, pre- to mid- to post-training; P < 0.01) and 5×/week (97 ± 11 to 90 ± 9 to 91 ± 9 mmHg, P < 0.01) groups, concomitant with increased forearm reactive hyperemic blood flow (26 ± 7 to 30 ± 8 to 36 ± 9 mL/min/100 mL tissue, P < 0.01; and 26 ± 7 to 29 ± 7 to 38 ± 13 mL/min/100 mL tissue, P < 0.01, respectively), yet both remained unchanged in the control group. No changes were observed in diastolic BP, mean arterial BP, or any indices of HRV in any group (all P > 0.05). In conclusion, IHG training lowers resting systolic BP and improves resistance vessel endothelial function independent of training dose in normotensive women.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Don A. Clarke for his technical assistance. The IHG dynamometers used in this study were donated by Zona Health (Boise, Idaho, USA). This work was supported by the University of Windsor (Grant #s 810043; 809264; 808316; CLM), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Master’s Scholarship; CLB), Heart and Stroke/Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence Postdoctoral Fellowship (PJM), and an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (MBB).

Conflict of interest

Philip J. Millar has received a speaker honorarium from Zona Health (Boise, Idaho, USA).

Ethical standards

The current experiment complies with the current laws of the country in which they were performed (Canada).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON, N9B 3P4, Canada

    Mark B. Badrov, Cassandra L. Bartol, Matthew A. DiBartolomeo, Nancy H. McNevin & Cheri L. McGowan

  2. Clinical Cardiovascular Physiology Laboratory, University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital, 200 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, ON, 6ES 414, Canada

    Philip J. Millar

Authors
  1. Mark B. Badrov
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  2. Cassandra L. Bartol
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  3. Matthew A. DiBartolomeo
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  4. Philip J. Millar
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  5. Nancy H. McNevin
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  6. Cheri L. McGowan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mark B. Badrov.

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Communicated by Keith Phillip George.

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Badrov, M.B., Bartol, C.L., DiBartolomeo, M.A. et al. Effects of isometric handgrip training dose on resting blood pressure and resistance vessel endothelial function in normotensive women. Eur J Appl Physiol 113, 2091–2100 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2644-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2644-5

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