High-Intensity Functional Training vs. Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training in Cardiovascular Disease Patients

November 4, 2026 updated by: Arlette Perry, University of Miami

A Comparison of Two Exercise Protocols on Vascular Function and Subclinical Predictors of Cardiovascular Risk in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease

The purpose of this study is to compare two exercise programs with a control group to see how they affect blood vessel health in people with cardiovascular disease.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
200

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Florida
      • Coral Gables, Florida, United States, 33146
        • Merrick Building, University of Miami
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

45 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age: ≥45 years.

  • Diagnosis of cardiovascular disease (CVD): Clinically documented by a licensed clinician in the medical record, including at least one of the following:

    1. Prior myocardial infarction (MI) or angiographically confirmed coronary artery disease (CAD).
    2. Stable angina, prior PCI/CABG, or documented myocardial ischemia on stress testing.

  • Clinical stability: On stable guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for ≥2 weeks and no hospitalizations for acute cardiovascular events within the past 4 weeks.

  • For post-myocardial infarction (MI) participants: ≥4 weeks since index MI and clinically stable without ongoing ischemia.

  • Capacity and consent: Able to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent (with interpreter support if needed).

  • Procedural feasibility: Able to undergo vascular ultrasound testing (e.g., flow-mediated dilation), pulse wave analysis/velocity, standard transthoracic echocardiography, body composition assessment, venipuncture for biomarkers, and submaximal fitness tests (e.g., 6-minute walk and handgrip).

  • Participants should be able to understand English or bring someone who speaks and understands English.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals who are not yet adults (infants, children, teenagers)

  • Pregnant women

  • Prisoners

  • Acute/unstable conditions (past 4 weeks): Acute coronary syndrome, decompensated heart failure, sustained ventricular arrhythmias, syncope of cardiac origin, or stroke/Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA).

  • Hemodynamic instability or severe uncontrolled disease:

    1. Resting Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) ≥180 mmHg or Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) ≥110 mmHg at screening or visit day despite medication
    2. Oxygen saturation <90% at rest on room air
    3. Active myocarditis
    4. Active pericarditis

  • Valvular/structural heart disease likely to confound measures or increase risk: Severe aortic stenosis or severe valvular regurgitation; obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with resting Left Ventricular Outflow Tract (LVOT) gradient >30 mmHg; restrictive or constrictive physiology chronic or acute requiring urgent intervention

  • Arrhythmias that preclude accurate testing or pose risk: Rapid, uncontrolled atrial fibrillation/flutter (ventricular rate persistently >110 bpm at rest) or frequent ectopy that prevents reliable Doppler/strain or pulse-wave measurements. (Rate-controlled Atrial fibrillation (AF) is allowable if measurements are technically feasible.)

  • Recent major procedures: Major surgery, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), or Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) within the past 4 weeks (CABG within 8 weeks) unless cleared by the treating physician and study PI.

  • Severe non-cardiac comorbidities likely to confound vascular/endothelial markers or limit participation:

  • Active systemic infection or fever within 7 days; active autoimmune/inflammatory disease flare requiring escalation of immunosuppression in past 8 weeks.

  • Advanced renal dysfunction (eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m² or dialysis) or decompensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh C).

  • Active malignancy receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy or thoracic radiation within the past 6 months (hormonal therapy permitted).

  • Contraindications to phlebotomy or vascular testing: Known severe bleeding diathesis or platelet count <50,000/μL; current therapeutic anticoagulation is permitted if clinically stable and venipuncture is not contraindicated by the treating clinician.

  • Peripheral vascular disease

  • Musculoskeletal/neurologic limitations preventing fitness testing (e.g., non-weight-bearing status, unstable orthopedic injuries) without safe alternatives.

  • Substance use or cognitive/psychiatric conditions that, in the investigator's judgment, would impair consent, adherence to pre-test restrictions, or completion of study procedures.

  • Current participation in another interventional trial that could affect vascular/endothelial outcomes (observational registries permitted).

  • Active participation in sports or exercise with 24-48 hours of testing.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: High-intensity Functional Training (HIFT) Group

Participants assigned to the HIFT group will perform supervised high-intensity functional training using scalable, multi-joint functional movements three days per week for a total of 12 weeks.
Behavioral: High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT)

Participants will complete supervised high-intensity functional training consisting of scalable, multi-joint functional movements. Exercise sessions will occur approximately 3 times per week for 12 weeks and will last 40 to 60 minutes, including warm-up and cool-down. Examples of activities may include body-weight exercises, resistance training, step-ups, sit-to-stand movements, squats, lunges, modified push-ups, and core exercises.
Experimental: Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training (MICT) Group

Participants assigned to the MICT group will perform supervised moderate-intensity continuous aerobic exercise three days per week for a total of 12 weeks.
Behavioral: Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training (MICT)

Participants will complete supervised moderate-intensity continuous aerobic exercise. Exercise sessions will occur approximately 3 times per week for 12 weeks and will last 40 to 60 minutes, including warm-up and cool-down. Examples of activities may include treadmill walking, cycling, elliptical exercise, or step-based aerobic activity.
No Intervention: Control Group

Participants in this group will be asked to maintain their usual diet, usual medical care, physical activity, and lifestyle behaviors.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Carotid-Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (cfPWV)
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

Carotid-Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (cfPWV) will be measured in meters per second (m/s) as an indicator of arterial stiffness. Measurement will be obtained using the SphygmoCor XCEL device (AtCor Medical) with upper arm and thigh cuffs with carotid artery applanation tonometry to assess pulse wave transit time.
Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)
Change in Central Augmentation Index (cAIx)
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

Central Augmentation Index (cAIx) expressed as a percentage (%) will be assessed using the SphygmoCor XCEL device via pulse wave analysis of the central arterial waveform derived from carotid artery tonometry and peripheral blood pressure measurements.
Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)
Change in Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg), will be estimated using the SphygmoCor XCEL device based on an algorithm derived from peripherally measured blood pressure obtained from an automated upper arm cuff.
Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)
Percent Change in Flow-Mediated Dilation (FMD)
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

Flow-Mediated Dilation (FMD) will be measured using a Philips Affiniti 50 ultrasound system. FMD will be expressed as percent (%) change in brachial artery diameter from pre-occlusion baseline to peak dilation following a 5-minute forearm occlusion.
Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)
Change in Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (cIMT)
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (cIMT), measured in millimeters (mm), will be assessed using a Philips Affiniti 50 ultrasound system. High-resolution B-mode images of the distal common carotid artery will be acquired, and mean wall thickness will be calculated from standardized image segments of the left and right carotid arteries.
Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Body Mass Index (BMI)
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

Change in body mass index (BMI), measured in kilograms per square meter (kg/m²), will be calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared.
Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)
Change in Waist Circumference
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

Change in waist circumference, measured in centimeters (cm), will be assessed using a standardized measuring tape.
Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)
Change in Body Fat Percentage
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

Change in body fat percentage, measured as a percentage (%), will be assessed using the SECA mBCA bioelectrical impedance analysis system.
Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)
Change in Skeletal Muscle Mass
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

Change in skeletal muscle mass, measured in kilograms (kg), will be assessed using the SECA mBCA bioelectrical impedance analysis system.
Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)
Change in Visceral Adipose Tissue
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

Change in visceral adipose tissue, measured in liters, will be assessed using the SECA mBCA bioelectrical impedance analysis system.
Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)
Change in Handgrip Strength
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

Handgrip strength will be assessed using a calibrated hydraulic hand dynamometer. Grip force will be recorded in kilograms (kg), with higher values indicating greater muscle strength.
Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)
Change in Cardiorespiratory Fitness (6-minute walk test (6MWT))
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

Cardiorespiratory fitness is measured by the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) as the total distance walked (meters) in six minutes.
Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)
Change in Nutritional Intake and Diet Quality
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

Diet quality will be assessed using the Mini-EAT instrument. The Mini-EAT generates a total score ranging from 0 to 90 points, with higher scores indicating greater adherence to healthy dietary patterns and better overall diet quality.
Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)
Change in Depression Symptoms
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

Depression symptoms will be assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 consists of 9 items with a total score ranging from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating greater severity of depressive symptoms.
Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)
Change in Anxiety Symptoms
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

Anxiety symptoms will be assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7). The GAD-7 consists of 7 items with a total score ranging from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater severity of anxiety symptoms.
Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)
Change in General Well-Being
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

General well-being will be assessed using the World Health Organization-5 Well-Being Index (WHO-5). The WHO-5 consists of 5 items with a total raw score ranging from 0 to 25, with higher scores indicating better well-being.
Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)
Change in Composite Blood Lipid Profile
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

A composite blood lipid score will be calculated using total cholesterol (mg/dL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (mg/dL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (mg/dL), and triglycerides (mg/dL) measurements obtained from blood samples collected and analyzed using standard clinical laboratory methods.
Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)
Change in High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP)
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

Change in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L), will be assessed from study blood draws and/or clinically obtained laboratory results when available and authorized.
Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)
Change in N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, measured in picograms per milliliter (pg/mL), will be assessed from study blood draws and/or clinically obtained laboratory results when available and authorized.
Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)
Change in Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1c)
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), measured as a percentage (%), will be assessed using study blood draws and/or clinically obtained laboratory results when available and authorized.
Baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Miami

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Arlette Perry, PhD, University of Miami

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 1, 2027

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 4, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 4, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 10, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 4, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 20260737

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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