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Developmental Changes in Hemodynamic Responses and Cardiovagal Modulation during Isometric Handgrip Exercise

Styliani Goulopoulou1, Bo Fernhall, Jill A Kanaley

  • 1Department of Exercise Science, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA.

International Journal of Pediatrics
|September 24, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Adults exhibit a greater pressor response during isometric handgrip exercise (IHG) compared to children. However, children show a more significant reduction in cardiovagal modulation, indicating complex age-related differences in autonomic control during exercise.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Autonomic Nervous System Function
  • Pediatric Exercise Science

Background:

  • Understanding age-related differences in cardiovascular regulation is crucial for assessing exercise responses.
  • Isometric handgrip exercise (IHG) is a common model for studying the pressor reflex and autonomic modulation.
  • Previous research suggests varying autonomic control between children and adults during physical activity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate disparities in pressor response and cardiovagal modulation during IHG between children and adults.
  • To determine if autonomic modulation differences explain the observed pressor response variations.
  • To identify factors influencing cardiovascular adjustments to isometric exercise across age groups.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited 23 prepubertal children and 23 adults for the study.
  • Measured beat-to-beat heart rate (HR) and blood pressure at rest and during IHG.
  • Quantified cardiovagal modulation using heart rate variability (HRV) analysis.

Main Results:

  • Adults demonstrated significantly greater mean arterial pressure responses to IHG than children (P < .05).
  • No significant group differences were found in heart rate responses during IHG (P > .05).
  • Children exhibited a more pronounced reduction in cardiovagal modulation during IHG compared to adults (P < .05).

Conclusions:

  • Age-related differences in pressor reflex response during IHG are not solely attributable to autonomic modulation.
  • The force produced during isometric contraction is a significant factor associated with changes in mean arterial pressure.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay of factors governing cardiovascular control in children versus adults during exercise.

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