High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is one of the most common disorders globally. Research has shown that anti-hypertensive medications alone are not universally effective in the treatment of high blood pressure. Isometric exercise training has been shown to be most effective at reducing blood pressure when compared to aerobic and resistance exercise training. The mechanisms responsible for the observed decrease in blood pressure following isometric exercise training are unknown. This study compared isometric exercise vs. cuff blood flow restriction when blood flow restriction was matched to determine if there was a similarity in acute hemodynamic and metabolic response. Eight men and twenty-two women, ages 18-25 years old, were recruited. Each subject participated in a baseline, isometric exercise, and passive cuff blood flow restriction session. Sessions were once a week for three weeks. Heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide consumption, ventilation, respiratory quotient, metabolic equivalent, and blood lactate and glucose were measured. During the baseline session subjects pushed at their max on the Biodex dynamometer for 10 seconds with 10 seconds rest for three rounds. The isometric exercise session consisted of performing two-minute contractions at 30% maximal voluntary contraction with one minute rest for four rounds. The passive cuff blood flow restriction session experienced cuff pressure relative to the blood flow restriction experienced in an isometric exercise at 30% maximal voluntary contraction for two minutes with one-minute rest for four rounds. Significant changes in metabolic and acute hemodynamic response were only observed from an isometric exercise. Future research may compare isometric exercise against varying degrees of blood flow restriction to see if there are similarities in response. Individuals may be unwilling to perform isometric exercises because they are fatiguing and uncomfortable. Cuff blood flow restriction may be a more comfortable alternative to decrease resting blood pressure.