Objective: Therefore, the current study examined handgrip strength (Hgs), systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) BP, pulse (PP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP), and rate pressure product (RPP) in 28 idiopathic PD patients and 28 age-matched healthy control (CT).

Background: Cardiovascular and muscular functions are compromised in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Improving muscle performance (i.e. with exercise), in health and diseased, is associated with enhanced cardiovascular function. However, the relationship of muscular strength with blood pressure (BP) measures is still inconspicuous in PD.

Methods: The participants’ BP were obtained after 15 minutes of supine resting, whereas Hgs was obtained with a hand-held dynamometer while standing erected with elbow pivoted on the trunk and 90O flexed. T-test was used to investigate differences between groups. Pearson’s correlation was used to examine the relationship between muscle strength and measures of cardiovascular function.

Results: The HR, SBP, DBP, MAP, and RPP were greater (p<0.05) in PD versus CT. The Hgs correlated significantly (p<0.05) with SBP (r=-0.41), DBP (r=-0.44), and MAP (r=-0.42) in the PD.

Conclusions: These results confirms BP elevation in PD. Unequally, Hgs was related to BP measures suggesting the importance of muscular function to cardiovascular function. The current study indicates that improving muscular strength with regular exercise might favorably modifies BP in PD.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/relationship-of-muscular-strength-with-cardiovascular-function-in-parkinsons-disease/