Determinant factors of intraocular pressure responses to a maximal isometric handgrip test: Hand dominance, handgrip strength and sex

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the mediating role of strength levels, hand dominance and participants´ sex on the intraocular pressure (IOP) behaviour during the execution of a maximal isometric handgrip test. Methods: One hundred and seventy-six sport science students (102 men and 74 women) performed a maximal isometric handgrip test with the dominant and non-dominant hands. A rebound tonometer was used to measure IOP before effort, during effort, and immediately after performing the handgrip test. Men and women were divided based on their handgrip strength in low- and high-strength groups using a median split analysis. Results: There was an acute IOP rise during effort, returning to baseline levels immediately after exercise cessation (P < .001, ηp2 = 0.79). A greater increase in IOP during the execution of the handgrip test was observed for the dominant-hand compared to the non-dominant hand (P = .004, d = 0.30) and for men compared to women (P = .001, d = 0.90). The main effect of strength level did not reach statistical significance (P = .266). Conclusions: The IOP rise associated with a maximal isometric handgrip effort is affected by the participants´ sex (men > women) and hand dominance (dominant hand > non-dominant hand), but not on strength levels. These findings need to be corroborated in glaucoma patients.