Cheri L McGowan’s research while affiliated with University of Windsor and other places

What is this page?


This page lists works of an author who doesn't have a ResearchGate profile or hasn't added the works to their profile yet. It is automatically generated from public (personal) data to further our legitimate goal of comprehensive and accurate scientific recordkeeping. If you are this author and want this page removed, please let us know.

Publications (61)


Pathophysiological mechanisms of hypertension. Ang angiotensin, ANP atrial natriuretic peptide, BNP brain natriuretic peptide, CA calcium, CO cardiac output, Epi epinephrine, HR heart rate, NE norepinephrine, NO nitric oxide, PGI prostacyclin, RAAS renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, SNS sympathetic nervous system, SV stroke volume, TPR total peripheral resistance
Modes of isometric exercise training. dBP diastolic blood pressure, HRpeak peak heart rate, IET isometric exercise training, MVC maximal voluntary contraction, sBP systolic blood pressure
Acute physiological responses post-isometric exercise. ATP adenosine triphosphate, BEI baroreflex effectiveness index, BRS baroreflex sensitivity, EDHF endothelium-derived hyperpolarising factor, IET isometric exercise training, K potassium, LV left ventricular, NTS nucleus tractus solitarius, TPR total peripheral resistance
Chronic mechanistic changes seen with isometric exercise training. BRS baroreflex sensitivity, dBP diastolic blood pressure, GLS global longitudinal strain, HR heart rate, mBP mean blood pressure, Q̇ cardiac output, sBP systolic blood pressure, SV stroke volume, TPR total peripheral resistance
Prospective randomised controlled trials investigating the effects of isometric exercise training on resting blood pressure
Isometric Exercise Training and Arterial Hypertension: An Updated Review
  • Literature Review
  • Full-text available

May 2024

·

1,062 Reads

·

15 Citations

Sports Medicine

·

·

·

[...]

·

Hypertension is recognised as a leading attributable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and premature mortality. Global initiatives towards the prevention and treatment of arterial hypertension are centred around non-pharmacological lifestyle modification. Exercise recommendations differ between professional and scientific organisations, but are generally unanimous on the primary role of traditional aerobic and dynamic resistance exercise. In recent years, isometric exercise training (IET) has emerged as an effective novel exercise intervention with consistent evidence of reductions in blood pressure (BP) superior to that reported from traditional guideline-recommended exercise modes. Despite a wealth of emerging new data and endorsement by select governing bodies, IET remains underutilised and is not widely prescribed in clinical practice. This expert-informed review critically examines the role of IET as a potential adjuvant tool in the future clinical management of BP. We explore the efficacy, prescription protocols, evidence quality and certainty, acute cardiovascular stimulus, and physiological mechanisms underpinning its anti-hypertensive effects. We end the review with take-home suggestions regarding the direction of future IET research.

Download

Effects of isometric resistance training and detraining on ambulatory blood pressure and morning blood pressure surge in young normotensives

September 2022

·

91 Reads

·

6 Citations

Isometric resistance training (IRT) has been shown to reduce resting and ambulatory blood pressure (BP), as well as BP variability and morning BP surge (MBPS). However, there are no data available regarding how long after cessation of IRT these effects are maintained. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of 8 weeks of detraining on resting BP, ambulatory BP and MBPS following 8 weeks of IRT in a population of young normotensive individuals and to further substantiate previously reported reductions in MBPS following IRT. Twenty-five apparently healthy participants with resting BP within the normal range (16 men, age = 23 ± 6 years; 9 women, age = 22 ± 4 years, resting BP: 123 ± 5/69 ± 7 mmHg) were randomly assigned to a training-detraining (TRA-DT, n = 13) or control (CON, n = 12) group. Resting BP, ambulatory BP and MBPS were measured prior to, after 8 weeks of bilateral leg IRT using an isokinetic dynamometer (4 × 2-min contractions at 20% MVC with 2-min rest periods, 3 days/week) and following an 8-week detraining period. There were significant reductions in 24-h ambulatory systolic BP (SBP) and calculated SBP average real variability (ARV) following IRT that were maintained after detraining (pre-to-post detraining, −6 ± 4 mmHg, p = 0.008, −2 ± 1.5 mmHg, p = 0.001). Similarly, the training-induced decreases in daytime SBP and daytime SBP ARV (pre-to-post detraining, −5 ± 6 mmHg, p = 0.001; −2 ± 1.2 mmHg, p = 0.001, respectively), MBPS (pre-to-post detraining, −6 ± 9 mmHg, p = 0.046) and resting SBP (pre-to-post detraining, −4 ± 6 mmHg, p = 0.044) were preserved. There were no changes in night-time or night-time SBP ARV across all time points (pre-to-post detraining, −1 ± 8 mmHg, p = 1.00, −0.7 ± 2.9 mmHg, p = 1.00). These results confirm that IRT causes significant reductions in resting BP, ambulatory BP, ambulatory ARV and MBPS. Importantly, the changes remained significantly lower than baseline for 8 weeks after cessation of training, suggesting a sustained effect of IRT.


Complete demographic information
Resilience and Despair: Exploring the Educational Experiences of Graduate Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic to Guide Strategies for Action

July 2022

·

53 Reads

·

1 Citation

Current Issues in Comparative Education

The purpose of the current study was to explore graduate students’ mental health and educational experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Graduate students (N = 28) in Canada completed an online survey consisting of both closed- and open-ended questions related to their mental health, degree progress, and access to campus workspace. Data were analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative approaches before being synthesized through a pillar integration joint display to merge study findings. Based on self-report data, approximately 60% of participants were experiencing poor-to-moderate mental health at the time of the survey. Participants also expressed dissatisfaction with online learning and felt uncertain about their degree trajectory due to changes and restrictions associated with the pandemic. Based on the participants’ responses, recommendations for assisting graduate students during the pandemic are presented. Highlighted by these recommendations is the importance of accessing workspace on campus and the challenges associated with university mental health resources. Overall, nearly 16 months into the pandemic, participants’ mental health was negatively impacted by the restrictions. Although the study findings may not be generalizable to all post-secondary institutions, they can be used to inform university administrators regarding the continued challenges facing graduate students during the pandemic.


Participant characteristics.
Getting the best GRIP on blood pressure control: Investigating a cost-effective isometric handgrip alternative

November 2021

·

153 Reads

Chronic Illness

Objectives The World Health Organization emphasises the need for cost-effective alternative methods to lower blood pressure (BP). Endorsed nationally in HTN guidelines, isometric handgrip (IHG) training is an alternative method of BP control. The purpose of this study was to compare the BP, heart rate (HR) and rates of perceived exertion (RPE) responses between a bout of IHG training performed using the traditional computerized device and a more affordable, inflatable stress ball. Methods Twenty healthy adults performed one bout (4, 2-min isometric contractions, with 1-min rests between each contraction at 30% maximal voluntary contraction) of IHG training using the traditional computerized device, and one bout with the inflatable stress ball. BP, HR, and RPE were recorded. Results No statistically significant differences between devices were observed with HR, BP, and RPE ( p < 0.05). However, average RPE for both devices ranged between 5 and 6 indicating that participants were rating 30% of their MVC, consistent with previous work. Discussion The similar cardiovascular and psychophysical responses provide support for the potential use of this low individual- and provider-burden, cost-efficient IHG device, and lay the foundation for a future training study to test the hypothesis of benefit.


Isometric exercise training for hypertension

December 2020

·

608 Reads

·

3 Citations

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Objectives: This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows:. We will aim to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis quantifying the effects of IRT on systolic, diastolic, mean arterial and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure. We will also quantify changes in heart rate and heart rate variability, and will attempt to determine which patient demographics and exercise program characteristics are associated with the largest blood pressure changes. Copyright © 2020 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.




Figure 2. Cardiovagal and sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients before and following exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and in similarly aged, healthy control (CTRL) participants. A, Cardiovagal BRS in CAD patients pre-and post-CR and in CTRL. B, Sympathetic BRS in CAD patients pre-and post-CR and in CTRL. Left panels are meanAESEM. *CAD pre-CR vs CAD post-CR, P<0.01; † CAD pre-CR vs CTRL, P<0.05. BP indicates blood pressure; hb, heart beats; NS, not significant; RRI, RR interval.
Figure 3. Neuro-cardiovascular reactivity to static handgrip exercise in coronary artery disease (CAD)
Heart Rate Variability Indices Before and Following Cardiac Rehabilitation in CAD Patients and in Healthy Controls
Effects of 6 Months of Exercise-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation on Autonomic Function and Neuro-Cardiovascular Stress Reactivity in Coronary Artery Disease Patients

September 2019

·

218 Reads

·

31 Citations

Journal of the American Heart Association

Background Autonomic dysregulation represents a hallmark of coronary artery disease ( CAD ). Therefore, we investigated the effects of exercise‐based cardiac rehabilitation ( CR ) on autonomic function and neuro‐cardiovascular stress reactivity in CAD patients. Methods and Results Twenty‐two CAD patients (4 women; 62±8 years) were studied before and following 6 months of aerobic‐ and resistance‐training–based CR . Twenty‐two similarly aged, healthy individuals ( CTRL ; 7 women; 62±11 years) served as controls. We measured blood pressure, muscle sympathetic nerve activity, heart rate, heart rate variability (linear and nonlinear), and cardiovagal (sequence method) and sympathetic (linear relationship between burst incidence and diastolic blood pressure) baroreflex sensitivity during supine rest. Furthermore, neuro‐cardiovascular reactivity during short‐duration static handgrip (20s) at 40% maximal effort was evaluated. Six months of CR lowered resting blood pressure ( P <0.05), as well as muscle sympathetic nerve activity burst frequency (48±8 to 39±11 bursts/min; P <0.001) and burst incidence (81±7 to 66±17 bursts/100 heartbeats; P <0.001), to levels that matched CTRL and improved sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity in CAD patients ( P <0.01). Heart rate variability (all P >0.05) and cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity ( P =0.11) were unchanged following CR , yet values were not different pre‐ CR from CTRL (all P >0.05). Furthermore, before CR , CAD patients displayed greater blood pressure and muscle sympathetic nerve activity reactivity to static handgrip versus CTRL (all P <0.05); yet, responses were reduced following CR (all P <0.05) to levels observed in CTRL . Conclusions Six months of exercise‐based CR was associated with marked improvement in baseline autonomic function and neuro‐cardiovascular stress reactivity in CAD patients, which may play a role in the reduced cardiac risk and improved survival observed in patients following exercise training.


Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Following Open Repair for a Proximal Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm or Dissection

August 2019

·

83 Reads

·

26 Citations

Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention

Purpose: There are limited data on cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), following open repair for a proximal thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection. The aim was to evaluate serious adverse events, abnormal CPX event rate, CRF (peak oxygen uptake, Vo2peak), and blood pressure. Methods: Patients were retrospectively identified from cardiac rehabilitation participation or prospectively enrolled in a research study and grouped by phenotype: (1) bicuspid aortic valve/thoracic aortic aneurysm, (2) tricuspid aortic valve/thoracic aortic aneurysm, and (3) acute type A aortic dissection. Results: Patients (n = 128) completed a CPX a median of 2.9 mo (interquartile range: 1.8, 3.5) following repair. No serious adverse events were reported, although 3 abnormal exercise tests (2% event rate) were observed. Eighty-one percent of CPX studies were considered peak effort (defined as respiratory exchange ratio of ≥1.05). Median measured Vo2peak was <36% predicted normative values (19.2 mL·kgmin vs 29.3 mL·kg·min, P < .0001); the most marked impairment in Vo2peak was observed in the acute type A aortic dissection group (<40% normative values), which was significantly different from other groups (P < .05). Peak exercise systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 160 mm Hg (144, 172) and 70 mm Hg (62, 80), with no differences noted between groups. Conclusions: We observed no serious adverse events with an abnormal CPX event rate of only 2% 3 mo following repair for a proximal thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection. Vo2peak was reduced among all patient groups, especially the acute type A aortic dissection group, which may be clinically significant, given the well-established prognostic importance of reduced cardiorespiratory fitness.


Participants' baseline characteristics
Blood pressure lowering effects of a novel isometric exercise device following a 4-week isometric handgrip intervention

June 2019

·

336 Reads

·

12 Citations

Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine

Background: Hypertension is the leading risk factor for global mortality. Isometric resistance exercise training reduces blood pressure (BP). However, the protocols used are often limited by cost/immobility and the use of rigid exercise modalities. In response, a novel more versatile, isometric exercise (IE) device, the IsoBall (IB) was created. Purpose: The aim of this study was to test the BP-lowering effectiveness of this prototype. Methods: Twenty-three healthy participants (29.10±2.19 years old, 173.95±3.83 cm, 75.43±5.06 kg, SBP 127.10±10.37 mmHg, DBP 70.40±6.77 mmHg) were randomly allocated to either a control group (CON) or 2 isometric handgrip (IHG) training groups that used the Zona plus (ZON) and IB devices. The intervention groups completed 3 sessions each week of 4, 2 min IHG at 30% maximal voluntary contraction, with a 1-min rest, for 4 weeks. Resting BP, heart rate (HR) and IHG strength were measured in all groups at baseline and postintervention. Results: Postintervention systolic BP (SBP) was significantly lower in both ZON (114.5±8.2 mmHg, p = 0.000) and IB (119.9±7.0 mmHg, p = 0.000) compared to control (131.0±12.4 mmHg). Postintervention diastolic BP (DBP) was reduced in both intervention groups (ZON 66.6±7.4 mmHg, p = 0.004; IB 65.7±10.0 mmHg, p = 0.012) compared to CON (71.1±8.8 mmHg). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was reduced in both groups (ZON 82.6±6.8 mmHg, p = 0.000; IB 84.3±9.1 mmHg, p = 0.000) compared to control (91.0±9.7 mmHg). No significant changes were seen in HR or strength (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that both the ZON and IB devices elicit significant SBP, DBP and MAP reductions. Despite the ZON group having larger reductions in BP, no significant differences were found between the two devices. Thus, this study indicates the IB device to be an effective alternative to the ZON that can also be used to perform other IE modalities.


Citations (45)


... More is known about the responses to static (isometric) exercise, with greater pressor responses elicited when exercising larger muscle groups in this paradigm [37]. With the increasing popularity of isometric exercise training because of the profound blood pressure lowering effects [64], more studies are required to characterize the acute central pulsatile hemodynamic responses during each of the primary modalities (wall squat, leg extension, or handgrip), as detailed elsewhere [64]. Nevertheless, two studies with comprehensive (noninvasive) assessments of central pulsatile hemodynamics have been conducted during small muscle mass isometric exercise. ...

Reference:

Effect of Acute Resistance Exercise and Resistance Exercise Training on Central Pulsatile Hemodynamics and Large Artery Stiffness: Part I
Isometric Exercise Training and Arterial Hypertension: An Updated Review

Sports Medicine

... Isometric resistance training (IRT) has emerged as an efficacious therapeutic intervention to reduce ambulatory BP when performed up to 10 weeks, when performing handgrip (Somani et al., 2017) or lower body (wall squat, Taylor et al., 2019; knee extension; Baross et al., 2022b) exercises. Furthermore, IRT is considered to be one of the leading non-pharmacological therapeutic interventions for the treatment of hypertension (Whelton and Carey, 2017) and has been included in the most recently published Australian position stand on Exercise and Hypertension (Sharman et al., 2019). ...

Effects of isometric resistance training and detraining on ambulatory blood pressure and morning blood pressure surge in young normotensives

... This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines [18]. The protocol of this work was published by the Cochrane Library: protocol CD 013803 of this work [19]. ...

Isometric exercise training for hypertension

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

... In recent years, exercise rehabilitation has been recognized as a non-drug treatment for the treatment and control of hypertension due to its various advantages [7,8], and has been widely used in the clinical rehabilitation of hypertension. Studies have shown that aerobic exercise, resistance exercise and both combined exercises can effectively reduce blood pressure [9,10]. Strong evidence supports that regular physical exercise is beneficial to the prevention and management of hypertension [11]. ...

Physical Activity to Prevent and Treat Hypertension: A Systematic Review
  • Citing Article
  • April 2020

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

... Furthermore, many scientific reports focus on patients who have undergone "successful surgery", and are referred for rehabilitation at various times, often several weeks after surgery. It appears that the highest risk group is the population observed in this study: patients with Stanford type A AAD with residual dissection, who are transferred directly from the cardiac surgery unit to the rehabilitation unit [18][19][20][21][22]. ...

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Following Open Repair for a Proximal Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm or Dissection
  • Citing Article
  • August 2019

Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention

... The liver produces glucose and ketone bodies through the processes of gluconeogenesis and ketogenesis, respectively. Lipolysis of adipose tissue maintains serum fatty acid concentrations [15]. ...

Effects of 6 Months of Exercise-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation on Autonomic Function and Neuro-Cardiovascular Stress Reactivity in Coronary Artery Disease Patients

Journal of the American Heart Association

... This contrasts with a previous study that reported little change in perceptions of physical exhaustion or feelings of tranquillity when measured 10 minutes after completion of IHGT (Yamada et al., 2021). Our data demonstrate that, although IHGT is often described in the literature as being 'low intensity' (e.g (Baddeley-White et al., 2019;Cohen et al., 2023)) and involves a low % of maximal force, training sessions clearly were not perceived as low intensity by the young normotensive participants in this study. This is different from research on continuous aerobic exercise modes such as running or cycling, which describes a neutral or positive affective response with low to moderate exercise intensities and a decrease in affective valence following a transition to higher exercise intensities (Ekkekakis et al., 2008(Ekkekakis et al., , 2010. ...

Blood pressure lowering effects of a novel isometric exercise device following a 4-week isometric handgrip intervention

Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine

... Otros autores como Baross et al. 30 llevaron a cabo un análisis sobre los efectos de 8 semanas de desentrenamiento en la presión arterial en reposo, la presión arterial ambulatoria y el aumento repentino de la presión arterial matinal tras un programa de entrenamiento de resistencia isométrica. Este se llevó a cabo en 25 individuos jóvenes normotensos (16 hombres , 23 ± 6 años; y 9 mujeres, 22 ± 4 años) con una presión arterial en reposo dentro del rango normal (123 ± 5. 69 ± 7 mmHg). ...

Effects of isometric resistance training on resting blood pressure: Individual participant data meta-Analysis

Journal of Hypertension

... The varying intensity of IHE was administered in the included studies and a detailed overview is provided in Table 1. Regarding studies that adopted exhaustion exercise protocol, one study used 30%, 50%, and 70% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) to perform IHE until exhaustion (Brown and Bray, 2015), and the other study performed the 50% MVC until exhaustion (Guzmán-González (Dempster et al., 2018;Okamoto and Hashimoto, 2022;Washio et al., 2021;Yamada et al., 2021). Two studies used 16 sets and five sets (Mather et al., 2020), respectively. ...

Effects of Isometric Handgrip Exercise Training on Systemic Arterial Stiffness, Cardiovagal Baroreflex Sensitivity, and Cognition in Adults with Hypertension: A Pilot Study
  • Citing Article
  • January 2018

Critical Reviews in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

... Treatment of hypertension additionally includes lifestyle modification, some of which has also shown to improve 24-h BP profiles. Many kinds of exercise programs have demonstrated as being effective in restoring normal dipping BP patterns and reducing 24-h BP [150][151][152][153][154]. Salt restriction and increased dietary potassium in salt-sensitive individuals has also shown to restore the dipping BP profile [155]. ...

The Impact of Blood Pressure Dipping Status on Cognition, Mobility, and Cardiovascular Health in Older Adults Following an Exercise Program