A Non Randomized Controlled Study to Evaluate the Effect of Isotonic Handgrip Exercise on Blood Pressure in Normal Weight and Preobese Healthy Adults

Background: The adverse health consequences of overweight and obesity in India leads to higher prevalenceof diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Also the compliance of people for routine form of exercisefor BP control has not been very encouraging due to time, place etc constrains.Aim: Therefore we conducted a nonrandomised clinical study to determine the short-term effects ofisotonic handgrip exercise by using smiley balls on blood pressure in healthy normal weight and overweightadolescents with the objective to find a user friendly exercise which help in reducing blood pressure.Method: A non randomized clinical study was conducted on 100 young normal-weight and pre-obese adults(50 Boys and 50 Girls) in the age group of 18–25 years. Isotonic handgrip exercise was performed at therate 20 contractions/minute (2 sec contraction/1 sec relaxation) at maximal intensity for 10 minutes usingsmiley ball. Pulse rate and blood pressure parameters were tested at baseline and immediately after exercisein post-exercise recovery period.Result: Statistically significant reduction was observed in systolic blood pressure(SBP) and mean arterialpressure (MAP) in both pre-obese boys and girls groups while pulse pressure & mean arterial pressure innormal weight girls after exercise regime.Conclusion: We conclude that the exercise regime under consideration can produce some short-termbeneficial effects with respect to blood pressure in especially pre-obese group of adults.