Zona Plus Hand Exercises

The Zona Plus is a hand-held isometric therapy device that is used to lower blood pressure. It involves a series of exercises that strengthen the hand grip and works in part by restricting blood flow to the forearms for short periods. This causes nitric acid to be released into the blood, dilating blood vessels and decreasing hypertension. The exercises may also increase activity in the parasympathetic nervous system, ensuring that blood vessels are properly dilated.

Setting Your Target Rate

• The first exercise that you will need to do with the Zona Plus is to set your target squeeze rate. This should be done sitting down in a comfortable chair. Hold the Zona Plus in your right hand, so that you can see the screen without craning your head. Press the green button to turn the machine on. Squeeze the Zona Plus as hard as you can for one to two seconds, and then rest for 10 seconds. Switch the Zona Plus to your left hand and again squeeze as hard as you can for one to two seconds, then rest for 10 seconds. The Zona Plus will display your target squeeze rate, or maximum voluntary contraction.

Hand Exercises

• Sit in a comfortable chair. Turn the Zona Plus on and hold it in your right hand. Squeeze the Zona Plus until the word "Hold" appears on the screen. You are now holding at your target squeeze rate. Hold this hand tension and position for two minutes. The display will count down for you and will also let you know if you need to squeeze more or less. After two minutes, relax your grip and rest for one minute. The timer will count down this minute. Move the Zona Plus to your left hand and repeat the exercise for two minutes. When you are finished, rest for one minute, then switch the Zona Plus back to your right hand and repeat the entire sequence.

Tracking Your Score

• At the end of each series of exercises, the Zona Plus will display a score. This shows how well you maintained your target squeeze rate for each of the two minutes that you held your grip. Over time, your score should increase or hold above a level of 80 as you are able to maintain the target rate more consistently. In order to increase your score, and see a benefit in lowered blood pressure, you should perform the entire series of exercises once a day, at least five times a week, for at least eight weeks. Once you stop performing the exercises, your blood pressure will return to its previous level.