Isometric Handgrip Exercise for Blood Pressure Management

University of New England, Australia

Status: Completed

Conditions: Hypertension

Treatments: Other: Isometric resistance training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02458443

UNewEngland

Details and patient eligibility

About

Recent meta-analyses suggest isometric resistance training (IRT) may be superior to aerobic exercise for lowering blood pressure. The investigators intend to conduct the largest, longest, prospective, double-blind randomized controlled trial using isometric resistance training to reduce blood pressure to reduce hypertension.

Full description

We are looking to assess the effect of isometric exercise on ambulatory blood pressure in participants aged 40-70 years who are either pre- or mild hypertensive; either un-medicated or taking medication to control their blood pressure. Our secondary aims are to examine whether the size of blood pressure change is different in those people taking or not taking anti-hypertensive medication, to determine the anti-hypertensive mechanism to IRT, and to establish rate of de-training effects after participants have ceased IRT.

Enrollment: 80 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 30 to 70 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Blood pressure above 120/80 currently not taking anti-hypertensive medications whose doctor has suggested would benefit from exercise; and
• people currently taking beta blockers for blood pressure management.

Exclusion criteria

• Younger than 30yrs and older than 70 yrs;

• unable to voluntary participate;

• unable to participate under doctor's recommendation;

• smokers;

• arthritis or carpal tunnel which may be aggravated with handgrip exercise;

• known cardiovascular disease (angina) and the following co-morbid conditions:

  • obesity,
  • insulin resistance,
  • depression,
  • mobility impairment,
  • sleep apnoea,
  • fatty liver disease or
  • renal disease

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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80 participants in 4 patient groups

IHG 5% Un-medicated

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Participants with high blood pressure (greater than 120/80) who are not medicated for blood pressure control will conduct isometric handgrip (IHG) exercise at 5% of their maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). Isometric resistance training will be conducted three times a week for 12 weeks, with participants conducting 4 x 2min IHG exercises at each session.

Treatment:

Other: Isometric resistance training

IHG 5% BB

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Participants with high blood pressure (greater than 120/80) who are currently taking beta blockers for blood pressure control will conduct isometric handgrip exercise at 5% of their maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). Isometric resistance training will be conducted three times a week for 12 weeks, with participants conducting 4 x 2min IHG exercises at each session.

Treatment:

Other: Isometric resistance training

IHG 30% Un-medicated

Experimental group

Description:

Participants with high blood pressure (greater than 120/80) who are not medicated for blood pressure control will conduct isometric handgrip exercise at 30% of their maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). Isometric resistance training will be conducted three times a week for 12 weeks, with participants conducting 4 x 2min IHG exercises at each session.

Treatment:

Other: Isometric resistance training

IHG 30% BB

Experimental group

Description:

Participants with high blood pressure (greater than 120/80) who are currently taking beta blockers for blood pressure control will conduct isometric handgrip exercise at 30% of their maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). Isometric resistance training will be conducted three times a week for 12 weeks, with participants conducting 4 x 2min IHG exercises at each session.

Treatment:

Other: Isometric resistance training