Isometric Handgrip Exercise for Blood Pressure Management

Cardiovascular Response to Isometric Resistance Training in People With Hypertension for Blood Pressure Management

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Hypertension
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Isometric resistance training

Detailed 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.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 80
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Australia
  • New South Wales
    • Armidale, New South Wales, Australia, 2351
      • UNE Exercise Physiology Lab

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 30 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Sham Comparator: IHG 5% Un-medicated; 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.	Other: Isometric resistance training; Isometric handgrip exercise using a hand dynamometer
Sham Comparator: IHG 5% BB; 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.	Other: Isometric resistance training; Isometric handgrip exercise using a hand dynamometer
Experimental: IHG 30% Un-medicated; 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.	Other: Isometric resistance training; Isometric handgrip exercise using a hand dynamometer
Experimental: IHG 30% BB; 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.	Other: Isometric resistance training; Isometric handgrip exercise using a hand dynamometer

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure	Change measures: baseline and 12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Compare and contrast change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure of medicated and un-medicated participants		Baseline and 12 weeks
Detraining effects, changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure after cessation of Isometric Resistance Training	End of exercise protocol and 12 weeks after completion	12 weeks and 24 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of New England, Australia
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Neil Smart, PhD, University of New England

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Carlson DJ, Dieberg G, Hess NC, Millar PJ, Smart NA. Isometric exercise training for blood pressure management: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Mayo Clin Proc. 2014 Mar;89(3):327-34. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2013.10.030.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2016
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 21, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 27, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): June 1, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 17, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 14, 2020
• Last Verified: December 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Hypertension
• Other Study ID Numbers: UNewEngland