Cardiovascular Response to Mckenzie Flexion and Extension Exercises in Standing and Lying Position in Prehypertensive Individuals

Objective: To examine the cardiovascular effect of repetitive McKenzie flexion and extension exercises of lumbar spine in standing and lying position in prehypertensive individuals.

Materials and Method: All the variables i.e. heart rate (measured with polar heart rate monitor), blood pressure (measured with sphygmomanometer) and rate pressure product (RPP=-Heart rate × Systolic Blood Pressure ÷ 100) were assessed before and immediately after the exercise and recorded on data collection form.

Results: It can, therefore, be summarized that McKenzie exercise of "extension in standing" is the least hemodynamically stressful and therefore it is the least risky and "flexion in lying" is the most stressful and hemodynamically demanding exercise.

Conclusion: Present study reveals that all McKenzie exercises of lumbar spine i.e. FIS, EIS, FIL and EIL cause significant increase in heart rate, blood pressure and rate pressure product in prehypertensive individuals, but FIL has the greatest cardiovascular effect.