Current evidence on the hemodynamic and blood pressure effects of isometric exercise in normotensive and hypertensive persons. 2010

Steven G Chrysant
Oklahoma Cardiovascular and Hypertension Center and the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK 73132-4904, USA. schrysant@yahoo.com

Isometric exercise is associated with acute hemodynamic changes consisting of increases in systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure and also an increase in heart rate and cardiac output. The peripheral vascular resistance is either not changed or decreased. These hemodynamic changes return to baseline values soon after the completion of exercise. Since isometric exercise is not an aerobic exercise, it was not recommended to hypertensive patients by national and international committee guidelines. Recent studies and meta-analyses of the subject have demonstrated, however, that isometric or resistance exercise does not raise resting blood pressure and frequently leads to a small decrease, which could be enhanced with the concomitant administration of antihypertensive drugs. Besides blood pressure, isometric exercise is associated with other beneficial effects consisting of an increase in muscle bulk, upper and lower body strength, increase in bone density, and a decrease in bone fractures. These changes are extremely beneficial to older patients by making them more mobile and increasing their quality of life. Based on these changes, the authors believe that isometric exercise, whether alone or in combination with dynamic exercise, should be recommended to hypertensive patients and be part of a comprehensive treatment regimen.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006973 Hypertension Persistently high systemic arterial BLOOD PRESSURE. Based on multiple readings (BLOOD PRESSURE DETERMINATION), hypertension is currently defined as when SYSTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently greater than 140 mm Hg or when DIASTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently 90 mm Hg or more. Blood Pressure, High,Blood Pressures, High,High Blood Pressure,High Blood Pressures
D001794 Blood Pressure PRESSURE of the BLOOD on the ARTERIES and other BLOOD VESSELS. Systolic Pressure,Diastolic Pressure,Pulse Pressure,Pressure, Blood,Pressure, Diastolic,Pressure, Pulse,Pressure, Systolic,Pressures, Systolic
D006439 Hemodynamics The movement and the forces involved in the movement of the blood through the CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM. Hemodynamic
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015444 Exercise Physical activity which is usually regular and done with the intention of improving or maintaining PHYSICAL FITNESS or HEALTH. Contrast with PHYSICAL EXERTION which is concerned largely with the physiologic and metabolic response to energy expenditure. Aerobic Exercise,Exercise, Aerobic,Exercise, Isometric,Exercise, Physical,Isometric Exercise,Physical Activity,Acute Exercise,Exercise Training,Activities, Physical,Activity, Physical,Acute Exercises,Aerobic Exercises,Exercise Trainings,Exercise, Acute,Exercises,Exercises, Acute,Exercises, Aerobic,Exercises, Isometric,Exercises, Physical,Isometric Exercises,Physical Activities,Physical Exercise,Physical Exercises,Training, Exercise,Trainings, Exercise

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