Isometric Handgrip Exercise for Blood Pressure Management

Isometric Handgrip Exercise for Blood Pressure Management. A Randomized, Controlled Trial

The aim of this project is to conduct a randomised controlled trial to assess the effect of performing isometric exercise using a handgrip dynamometer on blood pressure.

Study Overview

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

Detailed Description

Recent meta-analyses suggest isometric resistance training (IRT) may be superior to aerobic exercise for lowering blood pressure. A randomised controlled study will be conducted with participants who are either pre-hypertensive, blood pressure between 120/80 and 140/90, or on medication to control their blood pressure. Previous studies have utilised a sedentary control so we intend to use a sham group to determine if it can be used as a working control for future studies.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 120
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Australia
  • New South Wales
    • Armidale, New South Wales, Australia, 2351
      • University of New England

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:

• Those within the required age limits, both normotensive, pre-hypertensive, and those medicated for blood pressure management.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Younger than 30 years and older than 70 years; those deemed not to have the capacity to voluntarily participate, unable to participate under their doctor's recommendation, or with arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome who may aggravate their condition with handgrip exercise.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

6

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Sham Comparator: IHG 5% Hypertensive; Participants who are either un-medicated pre-hypertensive or medicated for blood pressure management conducting isometric resistance training using a hand dynamometer at 5% of their maximum voluntary contraction. Participants with perform 4 x 2 minutes isometric handgrip exercises 3 times per week under supervision for 8 weeks.	Other: Isometric resistance training; Isometric exercise using a hand dynamometer.
Experimental: IHG 30% Hypertensive; Participants who are either un-medicated pre-hypertensive or medicated for blood pressure management conducting isometric resistance training using a hand dynamometer at 30% of their maximum voluntary contraction. Participants with perform 4 x 2 minutes isometric handgrip exercises 3 times per week under supervision for 8 weeks.	Other: Isometric resistance training; Isometric exercise using a hand dynamometer.
Experimental: IHG 30% Normotensive; Participants who are normotensive conducting isometric resistance training using a hand dynamometer at 30% of their maximum voluntary contraction. Participants with perform 4 x 2 minutes isometric handgrip exercises 3 times per week under supervision for 8 weeks.	Other: Isometric resistance training; Isometric exercise using a hand dynamometer.
Sham Comparator: IHG 5% Normotensive; Participants who are normotensive conducting isometric resistance training using a hand dynamometer at 5% of their maximum voluntary contraction. Participants with perform 4 x 2 minutes isometric handgrip exercises 3 times per week under supervision for 8 weeks.	Other: Isometric resistance training; Isometric exercise using a hand dynamometer.
Experimental: IHG 10% Hypertensive; Participants who are either un-medicated pre-hypertensive or medicated for blood pressure management conducting isometric resistance training using a hand dynamometer at 10% of their maximum voluntary contraction. Participants with perform 4 x 2 minutes isometric handgrip exercises 3 times per week under supervision for 8 weeks.	Other: Isometric resistance training; Isometric exercise using a hand dynamometer.
Experimental: IHG 10% Normotensive; Participants who are normotensive conducting isometric resistance training using a hand dynamometer at 10% of their maximum voluntary contraction. Participants with perform 4 x 2 minutes isometric handgrip exercises 3 times per week under supervision for 8 weeks.	Other: Isometric resistance training; Isometric exercise using a hand dynamometer.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure	Baseline and 8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Compare and contrast changes in blood pressure between the 5% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and 30% MVC hypertensive groups	Baseline and 8 weeks
Compare and contrast blood pressure changes between the 30% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) hypertensive and 30% MVC normotensive groups	Baseline and 8 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: August 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 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: UNewEngland1