Handgrip test
hand dynamometer, pain
CONTRACTION
The handgrip test was performed with a hand dynamometer (Crown Manual-50KGF, INSTRUTEMP, Sao Paulo, Brazil). The test consisted of 3 min baseline and then participants were asked to perform 3-min of sustained isometric contraction in the hand dynamometer at 30% of the maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MVC) using their right hand. During the test, participants received feedback from the investigators in order to sustain the targeted force. At the end of the test, participants were asked to rate their pain on a 0–10 visual analogue pain scale (0 = not painful, 10 = maximal tolerable pain).HR and BP were measured in 1-min intervals during the test, and SBP, DBP and HR reactivity to the handgrip test were calculated as the absolute changes (delta changes – Δ) from baseline to their highest values achieved during the handgrip (usually within the 2nd of 3rd minute of the handgrip test).