Recent research suggests that isometric exercise is most effective for lowering blood pressure, even when compared to cycling, running, or walking. The research has garnered a large amount of press attention and there have been numerous calls for PTs to change the exercise they are currently prescribing to clients with high blood pressure. We spoke with Dr Dane Vishnubala, Chief Medical Officer at Active IQ about how trainers can best assess and then integrate new research, to ensure they’re doing what’s best for their clients. We spoke to Dane about:

• Prescribing specific exercises to lower blood pressure

• How PTs can navigate integrating research into their client sessions

• How PTs can stay up to date with the latest research

Would you prescribe isometric exercises over more traditional exercises to lower a client’s blood pressure?

A study by Edwards and team published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine recently gained a lot of press attention. The experiment looked at how effective different forms of exercise were in lowering blood pressure. For systolic blood pressure (SBP), the isometric wall squat was found to be the most effective, followed by the isometric leg extension and isometric handgrip, and then cycling, running, and walking.

However, for diastolic blood pressure (DBP), running was the most effective at reducing, then followed by isometric exercises such as the wall squat, handgrip, leg extension, and then cycling and other aerobic activities.

While the isometric exercises produced the largest cumulative reduction, all exercise methods were effective in reducing blood pressure in the participants.

When designing a programme, a PT must explore what the client’s goals are. Will the programme support their goals? Will it support adherence to it? Will it make it enjoyable?

If the main goal is reducing blood pressure, then it is, in my opinion, useful to know that isometric exercise can be helpful in managing blood pressure, and worth considering adding it to a programme. However, a mixed approach makes the most sense, with exercises such as running included to supplement the isometric training and support a client’s enjoyment of a programme.

How should PTs navigate integrating research like this into their prescription of exercise? Should they place a greater weight on research that has more media coverage?

When reading about research, it is important to remember that not all research is perfect! Some papers may have flawed methods or produce unreliable results. Being able to read a paper critically, and considering if it applies to the clients that you see, is important. If I see a quote from a research paper that has garnered a lot of media coverage, I will access that paper and read it myself. Then I can come to my own conclusions and base my decisions on them. Discussing and debating with other colleagues also helps me to form my decisions as they can offer insights and knowledge that I may not be aware of.

As the understanding of exercise science continues to evolve, how can personal trainers stay up to date with the latest research findings and adapt their exercise prescription strategies accordingly?

If a PT isn’t able to read and fully understand complicated research, then it is worth learning the fundamentals. Using trusted sources such as articles that provide evidence for their claims can be helpful, rather than using blogs or social media. Having an Active IQ qualification gives trainers the means to critically evaluate research and teaches trainers where to find relevant and credible research so they can continue to progress their knowledge base along with new research findings. Additionally, Active IQ accredited centres are able to guide PTs in shaping their programmes with clients according to the latest relevant research.

Off the back of news like this, how do companies like Active IQ ensure that the fitness professionals they certify are equipped to provide accurate and current exercise prescriptions to their clients?

Active IQ makes sure that the trainers in their approved centres have access to the best learning resources, which contain the latest research findings and instructional guidelines. The more resources Active IQ can provide to its centres, the more it can be confident that the tutors are up to date with new research.

Given that individual responses to exercise can vary widely, how should personal trainers personalise their approach to incorporating isometric exercises based on each client's unique fitness level, medical history, and goals?

Exercise science is an ever-changing field so staying up-to-date with the newest research through trusted sources is key. If a PT holds an Active IQ qualification, they are much more likely to incorporate the correct exercise for the individual as they have greater, more relevant knowledge than someone who is unqualified or holds a much lower quality qualification. Using this latest paper as an example, all modalities looked at improved blood pressure readings in participants. Therefore, the factors affecting a PT’s programme development for a client would be more like enjoyment, time, and other goals. However, it is still important to note that isometrics and running gave the most significant reductions in blood pressure, and so could possibly be weighted heavier in these exercise choices.

To find out more about how you can continue learning and developing your career as a personal trainer, visit www.activeiq.co.uk