Four weeks of isometric handgrip training results in lower awake ambulatory blood pressure compared with control: a randomized clinical trial.
Patrícia C Oliveira, Gustavo Waclawovsky, Alexandre M Lehnen
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial compared handgrip and knee-extension isometric training with control in 67 adults with controlled hypertension receiving antihypertensive medication. Participants completed 12 supervised sessions over 4 weeks. Only the handgrip group differed significantly from control in awake ambulatory blood pressure: systolic pressure was 121.8 ± 3.1 vs. 124.2 ± 2.6 mmHg, and diastolic pressure was 76.3 ± 3.6 vs. 80.8 ± 4.2 mmHg. No significant group differences were found for 24-hour or sleep blood pressure, or between the exercise groups.
Key findings
- Awake systolic blood pressure was lower with handgrip training than control (121.8 ± 3.1 vs. 124.2 ± 2.6 mmHg; p = 0.017).
- Awake diastolic blood pressure was lower with handgrip training than control (76.3 ± 3.6 vs. 80.8 ± 4.2 mmHg; p = 0.009).
- Knee-extension training did not differ significantly from control, and no significant differences were found for 24-h or sleep blood pressure.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that a brief, supervised handgrip isometric programme may be associated with modest reductions in awake ambulatory blood pressure in medicated adults with controlled hypertension. The absence of a detectable advantage for knee-extension training indicates that recruiting more muscle mass did not produce superior blood pressure outcomes in this trial.
What to keep in mind
The intervention lasted 4 weeks and involved 67 participants; the reported blood pressure differences were limited to awake measurements.