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Isometric exercise training lowers resting blood pressure and improves local brachial artery flow-mediated dilation equally in men and women

European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Isometric resistance training has repeatedly shown to be an effective exercise modality in lowering resting blood pressure (BP), yet associated mechanisms and sex differences in the response to training remain unclear. Exploration into potential sex differences in the response to isometric resistance training is necessary, as it may allow for more optimal and sex-based exercise prescription, thereby maximizing the efficacy of the training intervention.

Purpose

Therefore, we investigated, in normotensives, whether sex differences exist in the response to isometric handgrip (IHG) training.

Methods

Resting BP and endothelium-dependent vasodilation (brachial artery flow-mediated dilation; FMD) were assessed in 11 women (23 ± 4 years) and 9 men (21 ± 2 years) prior to and following 8 weeks of IHG training (four, 2-min unilateral contractions at 30 % of maximal voluntary contraction; 3 days per week).

Results

Main effects of time were observed (all P < 0.05), whereby IHG training reduced systolic BP (Δ 8 ± 6 mmHg), diastolic BP (Δ 2 ± 3 mmHg), mean arterial pressure (Δ 4 ± 3 mmHg), and pulse pressure (Δ 5 ± 7 mmHg), accompanied by increases in absolute (Δ 0.09 ± 0.15 mm) and relative (Δ 2.4 ± 4.1 %) brachial artery FMD; however, no significant sex differences were observed in the magnitude of post-training change in any variable assessed (all P > 0.05).

Conclusion

IHG training effectively lowers resting BP and improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in men and women, without significant sex differences in the magnitude of response.

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Abbreviations

AMS:

Artery measurement system

BP:

Blood pressure

DICOM:

Digital imaging and communications in medicine

FMD:

Flow mediated dilation

HR:

Heart rate

IHG:

Isometric handgrip

MVC:

Maximal voluntary contraction

ROI:

Region of interest

SD:

Standard deviation

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Don A. Clarke for his technical assistance and Cassandra L. Bartol and Matthew A. DiBartolomeo for their help with data collection. The IHG dynamometers used in this study were donated by Zona Health (Boise, ID, USA).

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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mark B. Badrov.

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Funding

This work was supported by the University of Windsor (Grant #s 810043; 809264; 808316; CLM), Heart and Stroke/Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence Postdoctoral Fellowship (PJM), and an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (MBB).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in the studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Additional information

Communicated by Massimo Pagani.

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Badrov, M.B., Freeman, S.R., Zokvic, M.A. et al. Isometric exercise training lowers resting blood pressure and improves local brachial artery flow-mediated dilation equally in men and women. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 1289–1296 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3366-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3366-2

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