Date of Award

2012

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.H.K.

Department

Kinesiology

Keywords

Health and environmental sciences, Arterial compliance, Blood pressure, Isometric, Postmenopausal

Supervisor

Cheri L. McGowan

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

Reduced carotid arterial compliance (CAC) and elevated resting blood pressure (BP) above the normal (≥120/80 mmHg) increases postmenopausal women's cardiovascular disease risk. Isometric handgrip training reduces resting BP across populations; however its influence on carotid arterial compliance (an independent CVD risk factor) remains unknown. This study sought to determine the effect of IHG training on CAC and resting BP in postmenopausal women. CAC and resting BP were measured in 8 postmenopausal women (65 ± 6 years; mean ± standard deviation) with elevated BP before and after 8-weeks of IHG training (n=5; baseline systolic BP 138 ± 12 mmHg) or sham-training (n=3; baseline systolic BP 142 ± 22 mmHg). CAC and resting BP remained unchanged following the intervention (P >0.05), however, clinically significant reductions in resting systolic BP and diastolic BP and were observed. These findings highlight the use of IHG training as an adjunct therapy for this population, however, future study is warranted.

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