Background: Hypertension is the leading risk factor for global mortality. Isometric resistance exercise training reduces blood pressure (BP). However, the protocols used are often limited by cost/immobility and the use of rigid exercise modalities. In response, a novel more versatile, isometric exercise (IE) device, the IsoBall (IB) was created.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to test the BP-lowering effectiveness of this prototype.
Methods: Twenty-three healthy participants (29.10±2.19 years old, 173.95±3.83 cm, 75.43±5.06 kg, SBP 127.10±10.37 mmHg, DBP 70.40±6.77 mmHg) were randomly allocated to either a control group (CON) or 2 isometric handgrip (IHG) training groups that used the Zona plus (ZON) and IB devices. The intervention groups completed 3 sessions each week of 4, 2 min IHG at 30% maximal voluntary contraction, with a 1-min rest, for 4 weeks. Resting BP, heart rate (HR) and IHG strength were measured in all groups at baseline and postintervention.
Results: Postintervention systolic BP (SBP) was significantly lower in both ZON (114.5±8.2 mmHg, p = 0.000) and IB (119.9±7.0 mmHg, p = 0.000) compared to control (131.0±12.4 mmHg). Postintervention diastolic BP (DBP) was reduced in both intervention groups (ZON 66.6±7.4 mmHg, p = 0.004; IB 65.7±10.0 mmHg, p = 0.012) compared to CON (71.1±8.8 mmHg). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was reduced in both groups (ZON 82.6±6.8 mmHg, p = 0.000; IB 84.3±9.1 mmHg, p = 0.000) compared to control (91.0±9.7 mmHg). No significant changes were seen in HR or strength (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that both the ZON and IB devices elicit significant SBP, DBP and MAP reductions. Despite the ZON group having larger reductions in BP, no significant differences were found between the two devices. Thus, this study indicates the IB device to be an effective alternative to the ZON that can also be used to perform other IE modalities.

Keywords: hypertension, antihypertensive intervention, isometric exercise ball, IsoBall, Zona plus device


中文翻译：

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经过4周的等距手柄干预后，新型等距锻炼设备的血压降低效果

背景：高血压是全球死亡率的主要危险因素。等距阻力运动训练可降低血压（BP）。但是，所使用的方案通常受到成本/固定性和刚性锻炼方式的限制。作为响应，创建了一种新颖的，更通用的等距锻炼（IE）设备，即IsoBall（IB）。
目的：本研究的目的是测试该原型降低血压的效果。
方法：23名健康参与者（29.10±2.19岁，173.95±3.83 cm，75.43±5.06 kg，SBP 127.10±10.37 mmHg，DBP 70.40±6.77 mmHg）被随机分配至对照组（CON）或2个等距手柄（使用Zona plus（ZON）和IB设备的IHG培训小组。干预组每周进行3次疗程，每次4次，每次2分钟，IHG，最大自愿收缩率为30％，休息1分钟，持续4周。在基线和干预后，测量所有组的静息血压，心率（HR）和IHG强度。
结果： ZON（114.5±8.2 mmHg，p  = 0.000）和IB（119.9±7.0 mmHg，p）的干预后收缩压（SBP）均显着降低 = 0.000）与对照（131.0±12.4 mmHg）进行比较。 与CON（71.1±8.8 mmHg）相比，两个干预组的干预后舒张压（DBP）均降低（ZON 66.6±7.4 mmHg，p  = 0.004； IB 65.7±10.0 mmHg，p = 0.012）。 与对照组（91.0±9.7 mmHg）相比，两组的平均动脉压（MAP）均降低（ZON 82.6±6.8 mmHg，p  = 0.000； IB 84.3±9.1 mmHg，p = 0.000）。心率或强度无明显变化（p > 0.05）。
结论：这项研究的结果表明，ZON和IB设备均引起SBP，DBP和MAP的显着降低。尽管ZON组的BP降低幅度更大，但在两种装置之间未发现明显差异。因此，这项研究表明，IB设备是ZON的有效替代品，该ZON也可用于执行其他IE模态。

关键字：高血压，降压干预，等距运动球，IsoBall，Zona plus设备