Abstract
Background: Studies have shown that isometric handgrip (IHG) exercise is effective in reducing the systolic blood pressure (SBP) in hypertensive individuals. The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of IHG exercise along with salt restriction in pre-hypertensive individuals to bring them to normotensive levels. Dynamic exercise is physically demanding, lacks objective quantification, and is cumbersome.

Aims and Objectives: (1) To study the effect of IHG exercise on SBP, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) in the exercise group; (2) To determine the SBP, DBP, and MABP pre- and poststudy in the control group; and (3) To compare the blood pressure difference pre- and postexercise among the exercise and control groups.

Materials and Methods: 60 prehypertensive males were selected; SBP, DBP, and MABP were recorded as 0 weeks. 30 of them were subjected to only salt restriction, referred to as the control group; another 30 were subjected to salt restriction along with 30% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) IHG exercise, 5 sessions per day with each hand performing every alternate day for 12 weeks. SBP, DBP, and MABP were recorded every 3rd week. The difference of 0-week and 12-week variable values was compared between the control and training groups.

Results: A significant reduction by a mean value of 5.2 ± 2.15 was seen in SBP among the training group, whereas the difference in other variables was not significant.

Conclusion: IHG exercise at 30% MVC, in combination with lifestyle modification, can be recommended to patients with prehypertension and can be a part of a comprehensive treatment regimen.

Key words: Systolic Blood Pressure; Diastolic Blood Pressure; Isometric Handgrip Exercise Training; Prehypertensive; Joint National Committee