Handgrip echocardiography for the detection of early signs of heart dysfunction in women after preeclampsia

The intervention is isometric handgrip exercise for 2-3 minutes duration at 30-40% of a participants' maximal handgrip strength during echocardiography. A cardiologist and/or trained research team member will perform the assessment. Resting echocardiography will be conducted first and will provide an overall indication of resting cardiac structure and diastolic function (~20 minutes). Resting measures will precede handgrip measures so the effects of exercise do not influence these resting results, which is standard practice for stress echocardiography. This will be followed by a 5-minute wash-out/ rest period prior to performing the isometric handgrip echocardiography. Isometric handgrip echocardiography will involve 2-3 minutes of isometric handgrip exercise, assessed using a dynamometer, and utilising a combination of visual feedback to participants and auditory encouragement from researchers to ensure compliance with the protocol to maintain an intensity between 30-40% of a participant's maximum grip strength. This will be performed unilaterally with the right arm. Echocardiography prioritising diastolic assessment will occur during the final minute of exercise and again immediately post exercise.