Blood Pressure and Cardiac Autonomic Adaptations to Isometric Exercise Training

Blood Pressure and Cardiac Autonomic Adaptations to Isometric Exercise Training: a Randomised Sham-controlled Study

A randomized, sham-controlled intervention measuring the effects of isometric exercise training (IET) on blood pressure and cardiac autonomics.

IET has been proven effective in a plethora of randomized trials, but very little research has employed a sham-controlled design. This researched involved the recruitment of 30 participants who completed a 4 week IET intervention, sham control of the IET intervention, or a non-intervention control period. Pre and post blood pressure and cardiac autonomic measures were acquired and analysed.

The hypothesis of this trial was a significant effect of IET on blood pressure, with no such effects following the sham control or normal control interventions.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy with no significant health conditions contraindicating exercise
• Over 18 years of age
• Physically inactive

Exclusion Criteria:

• Achieving current physical activity guidelines
• Abnormal resting ECG
• under 18