During exercise, it has been demonstrated that hypertensive individuals elicit an exaggerated blood pressure (BP) response to exercise which can increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular events. The main mechanism involved in eliciting this exaggerated response is the metaboreflex which has shown to be oversensitive in hypertensive individuals. One potential technique that may reduce this oversensitivity of the metaboreflex is remote ischemic pre-conditioning (IPC) due to the previously demonstrated positive ergogenic effects. However, the effect of remote IPC on the metaboreflex and the mechanisms involved are unclear. Additionally, whether the metaboreflex is exaggerated in healthy individuals with a family history of hypertension (FHH) is also unclear. It was hypothesised that individuals with a FHH would have an exaggerated BP response compared to individuals without a FHH and after remote IPC, exercise BP would decrease compared to sham condition. The BP response was measured during static handgrip exercise (metaboreflex was isolated through post exercise circulatory occlusion (PECO) and during an incremental exercise test to peak oxygen consumption on a cycle ergometer (VO2 peak test). Remote IPC and sham condition (control) was conducted on the upper arm before handgrip exercise and both upper thighs before the VO2 peak test. Here, hemodynamic variables (systolic BP, diastolic BP, heart rate and mean arterial pressure) were the same between individuals with a FHH and without a FHH (P>0.05). The hemodynamic variables were also the same when comparing remote IPC and the sham condition in both individuals with a FHH and without a FHH (P>0.05). Therefore, to conclude, healthy individuals with a FHH did not demonstrate an exaggerated metaboreflex during exercise and remote IPC did not reduce exercise BP when compared to the sham condition.
Restraining the blood pressure response to exercise: the role of remote ischaemic pre-conditioning
Landolfi, P. (Author). 30 Sept 2025
Student thesis: Master's Thesis › Master of Science by Research (MScR)