TAYLOR, A. C., N. MCCARTNEY, M. V. KAMATH, and R. L. WILEY. Isometric Training Lowers Resting Blood Pressure and Modulates Autonomic Control. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 251-256, 2003.
Purpose: This study examined the effects of isometric handgrip training on resting arterial blood pressure, heart rate variability, and blood pressure variability in older adults with hypertension.
Methods: Nine subjects performed four 2-min isometric handgrip contractions at 30% of the maximum voluntary contraction force, 3 d·wk-1 for 10 wk, and eight subjects served as controls.
Results: After training, there was a significant reduction in resting systolic pressure and mean arterial pressure. In addition, power spectral analysis of heart rate variability demonstrated that the low frequency: high frequency area ratio tended to decrease.
Conclusions: It is concluded that isometric training at a moderate intensity elicits a hypotensive response and a simultaneous increase in vagal modulation in older adults with hypertension.