Cardiovascular responses to isometric hand grip exercises between dominant and non-dominant hand in young males

Vanajakshi B J¹, Suma H P^2*

Abstract              Background: Isometric hand grip exercises using hand grip dynamometer where voluntary muscle activity is associated with sympathetic outflow to cardiovascular system to increase the heart rate and blood pressure. The rise in heart rate is also due to parasympathetic withdrawal and activation of other central command. Muscles which are used frequently in daily functional activities are the forearm muscles. Handgrip strength is used as an indicator of overall muscle strength. Aims And Objectives : 1. To determine the cardiovascular responses to hand grip exercises between dominant and non dominant hand in young healthy males. 2. To observe the changes in parameters (pulse rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure) after doing hand grip dynamometer exercises between dominant hand and non dominant hand. Methods: 100 healthy young male medical students of age 18 -20yrs studying at, Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences, Raichur, were taken for the purpose of the study. After taking consent, linear height, Weight, Blood pressure, Pulse rate was recorded. Statically analysis was done by using mean, standard deviation, student’s t test and studied the differences of cardiovascular responses to hand grip dynamometer between dominant and non dominant hand. Base line blood pressure and pulse rate were recorded in both the arms in right handed dominant subjects. Subject was asked to grip the hand grip dynamometer using maximum force with their dominant hand for few second. The procedure repeated for three times, the maximum value of three readings was taken as the maximal voluntary contraction. Blood pressure and pulse rate were recorded. Same procedure was repeated on non dominant hand and responses were noted down. Results: 100 healthy medical students were taken for the study. Basal values of pulse rate (81.81±8.31). Systolic blood pressure (120.3±8.36). Diastolic blood pressure (78.45±6.02) in dominant hand and non dominant hand were recorded. After exercises pulse rate value was 91.05±9.02). Systolic blood pressure value was (125.5±8.13). Diastolic blood pressure value was (81.9±5.69) in dominant hand. In non dominant hand after exercise pulse rate value was (88.89±9.86). Systolic blood pressure value was (127±7.64). Diastolic blood pressure value was (80.11±5.65). There were no much significant values observed pulse rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure between dominant and non dominant hand. Conclussion: Study revealed that there was significant increase in systolic blood pressure and increase in diastolic blood pressure and increase in heart rate in dominant hand after handgrip exercises; however there was also significant increase in all the parameters in non dominant hand of the same individuals. When compared the parameters between dominant hand and non dominant hand there was no much change observed in all the parameters.

Key Words: Isometric exercises. Blood pressure, Dominant and Non dominant hand.Dynamometer.

INTRODUCTION

Hand grip strength, which can be measured easily and objectively using a dynamometer is a predictive of multiple outcomes among variety of subjects¹. Isometric hand grip exercises are a form of static resistance exercise. Such exercises are characterized by a change in muscle tension while muscle length remains constant. They induce different circulatory and metabolic adjustments in the body, depending upon their types of action. As contrast to isotonic exercises, in isometric exercises, only small groups of muscles remains in contracted state, throughout the exercises, resulting in compression of blood vessels and occlusion of blood flow to the active muscle². When creating an isometric tension there will be increase in pulse rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure^3,4.Mitchell and associates⁵ and Seals et al.⁶ suggested that cardiovascular responses to isometric exercises are greater when larger muscle groups are involved. Blood pressure responses to isometric hand grip exercises are significantly elevated after exercises. The power of hand grip is the result of forceful flexion of all finger joints with the maximum voluntary force that the subject is able to exert under normal biokinetic conditions. Strong correlations between grip strength and various anthropometric traits, (weight, height, hand length etc.) were reported earlier(Malina et al.. 1987; Ross and Rosblad 2002⁷). In fact, the grip strength is reported to be higher in dominant hand with right handed subjects, but no such significant differences between sides could be documented for left hander people (Incel et al.. 2002⁸). Right and left hand grip strength was positively correlated with weight, height and body surface area (Chatterjee and Chaudhuri 1991⁹). Studies have done to know the hand dominance on grip strength and to calculate the endurance time, however no studies have done to know the effect of isometric exercises on cardiovascular responses between dominant non dominant hands. The present study was done to assess the cardiovascular responses to handgrip exercises on dominant and non dominant hand of right handed dominant healthy medical students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

20 healthy Medical students were analysed. 16(80%) students have shown significant differences so sample size is calculated by using the formula 4PQ/L2.Students studying at Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences were taken for the purpose of the study. The study was conducted in department of physiology during the period of October 2015 – December 2015. After informed consent, the students were asked to report to the department at morning hours. Anthropometry was conducted using standard protocol. The subject was asked to sit comfortably in a chair. The subjects were explained about the test and procedure. The base line blood pressure and pulse rate were recorded. Then the subject was asked to grip the handgrip dynamometer using maximum force with their dominant hand for a few second. The value was noted and the procedures were repeated thrice. The maximum value of the three readings was taken as the maximum voluntary contractions (MVC). Blood pressure and pulse rate was recorded. Same procedure was repeated on non dominant hand and responses were noted down. The blood pressure response was calculated as highest diastolic blood pressure during the test – Baseline diastolic blood pressure. Blood pressure response to sustained handgrip test>= 16mmhg was taken as normal. >=11-15mmhg as borderline and <=10mmhg as abnormal.

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