Isotonic (dynamic) and isometric (static) effort in the assessment and evaluation of diastolic hypertension: correlation and clinical use

Abstract

We compared the effect of two exercise stress tests on blood pressure in normal and borderline populations. The aim of the trial was to determine if isometric exercise testing by handgrip can replace the isotonic exercise test in population screening for the detection of mild and latent hypertension. The study involved 150 subjects; 62 were normotensive and 88 were borderline hypertensive. No significant statistical difference was found in diastolic pressure between the tests. In normotensive subjects, the diastolic response after isotonic effort was 79.3 +/- 9.6 mm Hg and 89.0 +/- 9.7 mm Hg after the isometric test (p less than 0.05). However, both results did not pass 100 mm Hg. In borderline hypertensive patients the diastolic response to the isotonic test was 105.6 +/- 8.8 mm Hg and after the isometric test 107.7 +/- 10.6 mm Hg (NS). The results show that the handgrip isometric test can replace the complicated isotonic test for the screening detection and evaluation of hypertensives in the population.