Gender-based differences in Cardiovascular Response in the magnitude and mechanisms of Isometric Exercise
Session
Sport, Health and Society
Description
To synthesize evidence on gender specific cardiovascular responses to isometric exercise and clarify implications for exercise prescription and risk assess-ment. Methods: A narrative synthesis of human studies examining acute cardiovascu-lar responses during isometric tasks focused on heart rate, blood pressure, and peripheral vascular resistance, with comparisons by sex or gender and consider-ation of moderating factors such as fitness level and menopausal status. Results: Isometric exercise produced increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and peripheral vascular resistance. Men generally showed greater pressor responses with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, which is consistent with larger muscle mass, stronger sympathetic activation, and greater vasoconstrictive activ-ity. Women typically exhibited larger heart rate elevations and a greater reliance on cardiac output, patterns plausibly linked to estrogen mediated vasodilation and comparatively reduced vascular reactivity. These differences were evident across studies but appeared attenuated in individuals with higher fitness levels and in relation to menopausal status. Conclusion: Gender meaningfully modulates cardiovascular reactivity to iso-metric exercise, with men tending to display greater blood pressure elevations and women relying more on heart rate and cardiac output. These distinctions, rooted in hormonal, autonomic, and morphological factors, support personalized exercise programming and risk stratification. Future research should investigate molecular pathways including sex hormone receptor signaling and assess the im-pact of gender affirming therapies on exercise responses.
Keywords:
Isometric Exercise, Cardiovascular Reactivity, Sex Differences
Proceedings Editor
Edmond Hajrizi
ISBN
978-9951-982-41-2
Location
UBT Lipjan, Kosovo
Start Date
25-10-2025 9:00 AM
End Date
26-10-2025 6:00 PM
DOI
10.33107/ubt-ic.2025.312
Recommended Citation
Erindi, Altin; Spahiu, Elton; and Agolli, Lindita, "Gender-based differences in Cardiovascular Response in the magnitude and mechanisms of Isometric Exercise" (2025). UBT International Conference. 9.
https://knowledgecenter.ubt-uni.net/conference/2025UBTIC/SHS/9
Gender-based differences in Cardiovascular Response in the magnitude and mechanisms of Isometric Exercise
UBT Lipjan, Kosovo
To synthesize evidence on gender specific cardiovascular responses to isometric exercise and clarify implications for exercise prescription and risk assess-ment. Methods: A narrative synthesis of human studies examining acute cardiovascu-lar responses during isometric tasks focused on heart rate, blood pressure, and peripheral vascular resistance, with comparisons by sex or gender and consider-ation of moderating factors such as fitness level and menopausal status. Results: Isometric exercise produced increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and peripheral vascular resistance. Men generally showed greater pressor responses with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, which is consistent with larger muscle mass, stronger sympathetic activation, and greater vasoconstrictive activ-ity. Women typically exhibited larger heart rate elevations and a greater reliance on cardiac output, patterns plausibly linked to estrogen mediated vasodilation and comparatively reduced vascular reactivity. These differences were evident across studies but appeared attenuated in individuals with higher fitness levels and in relation to menopausal status. Conclusion: Gender meaningfully modulates cardiovascular reactivity to iso-metric exercise, with men tending to display greater blood pressure elevations and women relying more on heart rate and cardiac output. These distinctions, rooted in hormonal, autonomic, and morphological factors, support personalized exercise programming and risk stratification. Future research should investigate molecular pathways including sex hormone receptor signaling and assess the im-pact of gender affirming therapies on exercise responses.