Handgrip and Acute Hemodynamic Responses During Cyclic Exercise: Randomized Clinical Trial

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Cardiovascular Research
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Hemodynamic adjustments during exercise are crucial for energy supply.
• Isometric Handgrip (HG) exercise is relevant for conditioning and rehabilitation.
• Limited data exists on the acute hemodynamic effects of combining HG and treadmill exercise.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the hypothesis that isometric HG contraction modifies hemodynamic responses during cyclic treadmill exercise.
• To assess the impact of HG on Heart Rate (HR), Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), and Double Product (DP).

Main Methods:

• A crossover clinical trial involving 40 young men.
• Three protocols: treadmill exercise alone, with 30% HGS HG, and with 60% HGS HG.
• Exercise involved blocks at 50% and 30% of heart rate reserve; statistical analysis using Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman tests.

Main Results:

• Both 30% and 60% HGS HG protocols significantly increased SBP and DBP compared to no HG (p < 0.05).
• Double Product (DP) was significantly higher only in the 60% HGS protocol (p < 0.01).
• Heart Rate (HR) increased similarly across all protocols; HG did not alter recovery hemodynamics.

Conclusions:

• Isometric Handgrip exercise enhances SBP, DBP, and DP during treadmill exercise.
• The combination of HG and treadmill exercise does not affect HR during the exercise bout.
• HG does not alter hemodynamic responses during the recovery phase post-exercise.