Study of evaluation of hemodynamic response during isometric handgrip exercise in young adult males

Abstract

Background: Isometric exercise is less extensively studied and compared to isotonic exercises, variable circulatory responses were observed by previous researchers to isometric exercise. Aims and Objectives: The present study aimed to analyze the changes in cardiocirculatory parameters during and after isometric exercise in young adult males. Materials and Methods: A total of 31 normotensive young healthy males (Mean age: 19.065 ± 0.92 years) were randomly selected in a cross-sectional study. Isometric handgrip (IHG) exercise at 30% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) was maintained by participants for 3 min or till fatigue. Hemodynamic factors such as blood pressure, heart rate, and peripheral oxygen saturation were recorded noninvasively at rest, 1st min of exercise, at 3rd min or till failure, and 2 min after completion of exercise. Mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, and rate pressure product were calculated subsequently. Anthropometric variables were correlated with MVC. Repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test level of significance for P < 0.05 at 95% confidence interval. Results: Exercise hemodynamic factors (at 1st min of exercise and at 3rd min or till failure) were significantly greater (P < 0.05) than values at rest. All the parameters return to resting level during the recovery period. Conclusion: IHG exercise can be a simple test to evaluate the left ventricular reserve and may be of value as a part of lifestyle intervention for the prevention of cardiovascular events.