Blood Pressure Responses to Static and Dynamic Knee Extensor Exercise between Sexes: Role of Absolute Contraction Intensity

Purpose Males have larger blood pressure (BP) responses to relative-intensity static handgrip exercise compared with females. Controlling for absolute load (maximal voluntary contraction (MVC)) abolishes these differences. Whether similar observations exist during large muscle mass exercise or dynamic contractions, and the mechanisms involved, remains unknown. Methods BP, heart rate, muscle oxygenation (near-infrared spectroscopy), and rectus femoris EMG were recorded in 28 males and 17 females during 10% and 30% MVC static (120 s) and isokinetic dynamic (180 s; 1:2 work-to-rest ratio; angular velocity, 60°·s−1) knee extensor exercise. Static and dynamic exercises were completed on separate visits, in a randomized order. Sex differences were examined with and without statistical adjustment of MVC (ANCOVA). Results Males had larger systolic BP responses (interaction, P 0.1). Males had larger systolic BP responses during dynamic exercise at 10% and 30% (interaction; both, P = 0.01), which were abolished after adjustment for MVC (interaction; both, P> 0.08). Systolic BP responses were correlated with absolute MVC and stroke volume responses during 10% (r = 0.31, P = 0.04; r = 0.61, P
Source: Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise - Category: Sports Medicine Tags: APPLIED SCIENCES Source Type: research