Effect of Isometric Handgrip Exercises on Blood Pressure of Hypertensive Adults

May 3, 2023 updated by: Riphah International University
This study is designed to determine the effects of isometric handgrip exercises as compared to aerobic exercises in the hypertensive population, specifically in pre-hypertensives and those with hypertension stage I who are not taking pharmacological treatment. This exercise is designed as part of lifestyle modification for these patients and if proven effective, it can provide an easier to perform exercise regimen as an alternative to be incorporated in the exercise plan of patients who have difficulty in performing aerobic exercises because of musculoskeletal concerns.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Hypertension (HTN) is a significant public health problem, with an increasing worldwide prevalence. The disease has an impact on reducing the quality of life (QOL) and can be life-threatening if not treated early. It is considered the major risk factor for cardiovascular and renal diseases. Complications of hypertension can lead to a variety of serious diseases like stroke, heart attack, and even cardiac and renal failure. Non-pharmacological management via lifestyle modification is focused in the initial stages of HTN through the reduction in alcohol consumption, cessation of tobacco smoking, maintenance of body weight, improvements in nutrition, and increases in physical activity. Physical activity improves health status and prevents the complications of hypertension like stroke and heart failure.

Typically, aerobic exercises in the form of walking and jogging are advised as part of lifestyle modification. effectiveness of resistance training is also worked upon. A relatively newer approach in the form of Isometric Hand Grip exercises (IHG) is also under research because it can serve as a useful alternative for patients who cannot perform aerobic exercises because of musculoskeletal conditions. This study is targeted to assess the effects of IHG exercises, aerobic training, both aerobic and IHG training as well as sham IHG treatment for a comprehensive assessment of effects of IHG training.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

104

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Pakistan
    • AL
      • Bahawalpur, AL, Pakistan, 44000
        • Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center

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

Ages Eligible for Study

30 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Pre-hypertension (systolic BP 120-139 mmHg and diastolic BP<80) or stage I hypertensive patients (systolic BP 140-159 mmHg and diastolic BP 90-99mm Hg.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients who are taking antihypertensive agents
  • Malignant hypertension
  • Physical limitation preventing IHG training (e.g., missing arm, severe hand arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or having a musculoskeletal disorder affecting the upper limb.
  • Active systemic illness that restricts exercise
  • People doing exercise regularly
  • Any other cardiopulmonary, metabolic, neurological, or psychiatric illness.

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: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: IHG group
Isometric handgrip exercises will be performed in 4 sets for 2 min at 30% Maximal Voluntary Contraction (MVC) on both hands with the frequency of 3 days per week for a period of 6 weeks.
Other: IHG
Isometric handgrip exercises will be performed for 4 x 2 min with the frequency of 3 days per week for a period of 6 weeks.
Active Comparator: Aerobic training group
Aerobic Exercises include walk for 50 min with the frequency of 3 days per week. This exercise will be done for a 6-week period.
Other: Aerobic exercises
Aerobic exercise according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines that provide the specific criteria as 50 minutes exercises for 3 days a week for a period of 6 weeks.
Sham Comparator: IHG + Aerobic exercises group

Isometric handgrip exercises will be performed in 4 sets for 2 min at 30% MVC on both hands with the frequency of 3 days per week for a period of 6 weeks.

Isometric handgrip exercises will be performed in 4 sets for 2 min at 30% MVC on both hands with the frequency of 3 days per week for a period of 6 weeks.
Other: IHG
Isometric handgrip exercises will be performed for 4 x 2 min with the frequency of 3 days per week for a period of 6 weeks.
Other: Aerobic exercises
Aerobic exercise according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines that provide the specific criteria as 50 minutes exercises for 3 days a week for a period of 6 weeks.
Sham Comparator: Sham IHG group
Isometric handgrip exercises will be performed in 4 sets for 2 min at 5% MVC on both hands with the frequency of 3 days per week for a total 6-week period.
Other: Sham IHG
Isometric handgrip exercises will be performed in 4 sets for 2 min at 5% MVC on both hands with the frequency of 3 days per week for a total 6-week period

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Systolic blood pressure
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Pressure exerted by flowing blood on walls of blood vessels during contraction of heart.
6 weeks
Diastolic blood pressure
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Pressure exerted by flowing blood on walls of blood vessels during relaxation of heart.
6 weeks
Mean arterial pressure (MAP)
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Mean arterial pressure (MAP) is the average of arterial pressure during one cardiac cycle and it will be calculated by using the formula MAP = DBP+ 1/3 (SBP-DBP).
6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Riphah International University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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 (Actual)

September 10, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 30, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

April 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 4, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 4, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

February 15, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

May 4, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 3, 2023

Last Verified

May 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Sidra Iqbal

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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