Acute Effects of Resistance Exercise on Intraocular Pressure in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT

Hackett, DA, Li, J, Wang, B, Way, KL, Cross, T, and Tran, DL. Acute effects of resistance exercise on intraocular pressure in healthy adults: A systematic review. J Strength Cond Res 38(2): 394-404, 2024-Intraocular pressure (IOP) tends to fluctuate during a resistance exercise (RE). This systematic review examines the acute effects of RE on IOP in healthy adults and factors that influence changes in IOP. Five electronic databases were searched using terms related to RE and IOP. A strict inclusion criterion was applied, which included being 55 years or younger with no medical conditions and RE intensity needing to be quantifiable (e.g., based on a maximal effort). Thirty-four studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Isometric and isotonic contractions produced similar changes in IOP during RE up to 28.7 mm Hg. Exercises that involved larger muscle mass, such as squats and leg press, were found to produce changes in IOP during exercise ranging from 3.1 to 28.7 mm Hg. Smaller changes in IOP during RE were found for exercises engaging less muscle mass (e.g., handgrip and bicep curls). Intraocular pressure was found to increase during RE when lifting heavier loads and with longer exercise durations (e.g., greater repetitions). The Valsalva maneuver (VM) and breath-hold during RE accentuated the change in IOP, with more extreme changes observed with the VM. However, most studies showed that postexercise IOP returned to baseline after approximately 1 minute of recovery. An acute increase in IOP is observed during RE in healthy adults with fluctuations of varying magnitude. Factors that independently increase IOP during RE include exercises involving larger muscle mass, heavy loads, greater set duration, and when the VM or breath-hold is performed.

Lifestyle Measures for Glaucoma Patients: An Objective Social Media Content Analysis

Aim

In this study, we analyze the content quality and characteristics of the most viewed search results on various internet platforms related to lifestyle measures for patients with glaucoma.

Materials and methods

In this internet-based cross-sectional study, we used search keywords "glaucoma," "lifestyle," "glaucoma," and "exercise" on the most popular internet platforms-Google, Facebook, YouTube, and Reddit. The top 30 Google searches about each of the keyword combinations were identified. We also assessed the first 30 videos on YouTube and Facebook Watch, the first 30 Reddit posts and the first 30 Google images about each of the keyword combinations. The quality of content from the platforms was evaluated by three independent reviewers using the well-established Sandvik score, Health on Net (HON) code, and risk score for different uploaders. The quality of content regarding lifestyle measures in glaucoma uploaded by healthcare professionals (HCPs) was further evaluated.

Results

The established criteria resulted in 48 websites from the Google search engine, 22 videos from YouTube, 37 posts from Reddit, and 28 videos from Facebook Watch, which were included in the final analysis. The mean Sandvik scores were 11.14 ± 1.8 (Google webpages), 10.4 ± 2.19 (YouTube videos), 10.54 ± 2.21 (Facebook Watch), and 4.24 ± 1.18 (Reddit). The mean risk scores were 0.22 ± 0.68 (YouTube videos), 0.18 ± 0.47 (Facebook Watch), and 0.11 ± 0.31 (Reddit). The mean HON code scores were 5.45 ± 1.62 (YouTube), 6.55 ± 1.44 (Google webpages), 5.29 ± 1.04 (Facebook Watch), and 8.27 ± 3.05 (Reddit). The content uploaded by HCPs was primarily from ophthalmologists and had significantly (p < 0.05) higher content quality scores. The majority of the content recommended aerobic exercise as a lifestyle measure in patients with glaucoma as an adjuvant to medical and surgical management.

Conclusion

The majority of the content regarding lifestyle measures in glaucoma was uploaded by HCPs and had medically accurate and well-referenced information, especially on Google and YouTube.

Clinical significance

Primary care physicians and ophthalmologists can reliably use social media content to guide recently diagnosed patients about the requisite lifestyle measures.

How to cite this article

Chahal R, Jindal A, Parmar UPS, et al. Lifestyle Measures for Glaucoma Patients: An Objective Social Media Content Analysis. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2023;17(3):141-148.

Therapeutic and preventive eff ect of physical exercises in primary open-angle glaucoma

The review assesses physical exercises as an additional non-pharmacological mean of combating the progression of primary open-angle glaucoma. The ophthalmic hypotensive effect is determined by the type of exercise, its duration and intensity. Moderate aerobic activity is preferred. Among dynamic exercises, jogging has the greatest hypotensive effect. Upper body isometric resistance training provides a more lasting decrease in ophthalmotonus. The decrease in intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with glaucoma is several times more pronounced in comparison with healthy people and occurs regardless of the nature of the local drug antihypertensive therapy. After the termination of classes IOP returns to the previous level on average within a month. An increase in ocular perfusion pressure associated with physical activity dictates the appropriateness of physical exercise for patients with pseudo-normal pressure glaucoma. The combination of hypotensive, vascular, neuroprotective effects of physical activity with a high level of physical fi tness does not exclude a decrease in the risk of development and progression of primary open-angle glaucoma. The development of indications for the use of physical activity by patients with advanced glaucoma, including those who have undergone hypotensive surgery, remains relevant. The type, intensity, dosage and mode of performing the recommended physical exercises require an individual choice.