Background: This study aimed to identify the blood pressure (BP)
responses during different types of isometric exercises (IE) in adults and to
evaluate whether BP responses according to IE is influenced by the
characteristics of participants and exercise protocols. Methods: The
search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Central, SPORTDiscus, and LILACS
databases in June 2020. Random effects models with a 95% confidence interval and
p 0.05 were used in the analyses. Results: Initially, 3201
articles were found and, finally, 102 studies were included in this systematic
review, seven of which were included in the meta-analysis comparing handgrip to
other IE. Two-knee extension and deadlift promoted greater increases in systolic
(+9.8 mmHg; p = 0.017; I = 74.5% and +26.8 mmHg;
p 0.001; I = 0%, respectively) and diastolic (+7.9
mmHg; p = 0.022; I = 68.6% and +12.4 mmHg; p 0.001; I = 36.3%, respectively) BP compared to handgrip. Men,
middle-aged/elderly adults, hypertensive individuals, and protocols with higher
intensities potentiate the BP responses to handgrip exercise (p 0.001). Conclusions: IE involving larger muscle groups elicit
greater BP responses than those involving smaller muscle masses, especially in
men, middle-aged/elderly adults and hypertensive individuals. Future studies
should directly compare BP responses during various types of IE in different
populations.