Gender and Postural Differences in Cardiovascular Response to Hand Grip Exercise Among Elderly Normotensives

Abstract

Cardiovascular (CV) response to isometric exercise among the elderly is still widely underreported. This study was carried out to investigate CV response to hand grip (HG) exercise among elderly individuals, in seated and supine positions. Thirty (15 males and 15 females) elderly (60 years and above), apparently healthy normotensive (<140/90 mmHg) individuals were recruited to participate in this study. The mean ages of male and female participants were 72±8.8 years and 68.5±9 years respectively. Their heights and weights were measured using standard procedures. All the participants performed HG exercise using a hydraulic dynamometer at 40 per cent of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) until failure. Their heart rates, as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured pre-test and immediately after failure (post-test) with an electronic sphygmomanometer. The multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to compare the pre- and post- exercise CV parameters of the participants in seated and supine positions. The results of the study revealed that the male and female participants were similar in age (p=0.315), height (p=0.174) and weight (p=0.314) as well as in their baseline CV variables (p>0.05). The HG exercise caused a significant rise in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in both seated and supine positions post-exercise (p<0.05). However, heart rate did not show any significant increase (p=0.063). The results also showed no significant gender and postural difference (seated and supine) in all CV responses to hand grip exercise (p>0.05). It was concluded that gender and posture (seated and supine position) do not affect heart rate, or systolic and
diastolic blood pressure response to HG exercise among elderly  normotensives.

KEYWORDS: hand grip exercise, elderly normotensive, cardiovascular responses, seated and supine position