Isometric handgrip training, but not a single session, reduces blood pressure in individuals with hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
PubMed 36379974 · doi:10.1038/s41371-022-00778-7
What was done
Authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (PROSPERO CRD 42021217958) searched across MEDLINE, Cochrane, Web of Science, LILACS, EMBASE, and PEDro. They evaluated the acute effect of a single isometric handgrip exercise (IHGE) session and the chronic effect of isometric handgrip training (IHGT) on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in adults with hypertension without comorbid conditions. Analyses used random-effects models, the RoB2 tool for risk of bias, and GRADE for evidence certainty.
What was found
A total of 9 RCTs were included (2 for IHGE and 7 for IHGT). Acute IHGE showed no significant effect on SBP or DBP compared to control (no numerical values reported in abstract). In contrast, IHGT significantly reduced SBP by 6.7 mmHg (95% CI -10.3 to -3.4 mmHg; 95% prediction interval -10.9 to -2.5 mmHg) and DBP by 4.5 mmHg (95% CI -7.3 to -1.7 mmHg; 95% prediction interval -10.2 to +1.2 mmHg).
Why it matters
This review confirms that chronic isometric handgrip training produces clinically meaningful reductions in resting blood pressure for individuals with uncomplicated hypertension, supporting it as an effective non-pharmacological exercise option despite the absence of acute post-exercise hypotensive effects.
Limits
The total number of randomized controlled trials was small (n = 9 total, with only 2 assessing acute exercise), and total participant sample size was not reported in the abstract. Findings are limited to hypertensive individuals without comorbid conditions, restricting generalizability. Furthermore, the 95% prediction interval for DBP crossed zero (-10.2 to +1.2 mmHg), indicating uncertainty in treatment response across different settings.
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