Handgrip Training and Brain Blood Flow Regulation

This study aims to investigate the effect of isometric handgrip training on brain blood vessel function in physically inactive adults. Isometric handgrip training is a promising strategy for lowering blood pressure and improving vascular health, but no previous investigations have studied the effect of training on markers of brain blood vessel function. Based on previous work showing improvements in vascular function after isometric handgrip training, we hypothesize that isometric handgrip training will improve key markers of cerebrovascular function.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Inactivity/Low Levels of Exercise
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Handgrip Training

Detailed Description

The incidence of cerebrovascular diseases is expected to increase. Early life sets the stage for vascular health outcomes later in life. Regular exercise is recommended for improving cerebrovascular health outcomes, but a lack of time or inadequate facilities are common exercise barriers. Not getting enough exercise is associated with worse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health outcomes. There is a critical need for time-efficient strategies that require minimal equipment for improving cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health. Isometric handgrip (IHG) training is an effective strategy for improving cardiovascular health. Despite IHG's usefulness for improving vascular health through blood pressure reductions and improvements in endothelial function, almost nothing is known about IHG training and cerebrovascular function. Therefore, this project aims to test the hypothesis that 8 weeks of IHG training will improve cerebrovascular blood flow regulation and total cerebrovascular blood flow among adult humans who are not meeting the physical activity recommendations. We will measure middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv) via transcranial Doppler ultrasound and assess MCAv dynamic autoregulation and MCAv reactivity to high and low carbon dioxide. We will also measure total cerebral blood flow, central artery stiffness, and MCAv pulsatility index. Understanding the effect of IHG on cerebrovascular health could inform exercise recommendations.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Florida
    • Tallahassee, Florida, United States, 32306
      • Recruiting
      • Florida State University
      • Contact: Joseph Watso, PhD; Phone Number: 850-644-5260; Email: jwatso@fsu.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 to 35 years old
• Body mass index ≤30 kg/m2 (without obesity)
• Physically inactive (not meeting the current recommendations of ≥150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise and not ≥2 days per week of resistance training) in last 6 months
• Have a smartphone and are willing to download mobile applications used in this project

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having an overt chronic condition (e.g., cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, etc.)
• Being pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding/lactating
• Regular use of nicotine products in the past 6 months
• Recent head injury/trauma or concussion

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Isometric Handgrip Training - Intervention; Participants will perform moderate-intensity handgrip training three days per week for eight weeks using a handheld device.	Device: Handgrip Training; Handgrip training 3 days per week for 8 weeks
Sham Comparator: Isometric Handgrip Training - Sham; Participants will perform very low-intensity handgrip training three days per week for eight weeks using a handheld device.	Device: Handgrip Training; Handgrip training 3 days per week for 8 weeks

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in middle cerebral artery blood velocity reactivity to hypercapnia	Middle cerebral artery blood velocity will be measured via transcranial Doppler ultrasound	Up to 9 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in middle cerebral artery blood velocity reactivity to hypocapnia	Middle cerebral artery blood velocity will be measured via transcranial Doppler ultrasound	Up to 9 weeks
Brachial systolic blood pressure	Blood pressure measured at the brachial artery	Up to 9 weeks
Change in dynamic cerebral autoregulation phase	Calculated from middle cerebral artery blood velocity signal using transfer function analysis	Up to 9 weeks
Change in dynamic cerebral autoregulation gain	Calculated from middle cerebral artery blood velocity signal using transfer function analysis	Up to 9 weeks
Change in total resting brain blood flow	Total brain blood flow measured in the internal carotid and vertebral arteries at rest via ultrasound	Up to 9 weeks
Middle cerebral artery blood velocity pulsatility index	Calculated from middle cerebral artery blood velocity signal	Up to 9 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Florida State University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 27, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 27, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 27, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 30, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 30, 2025
• First Posted (Estimated): November 3, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 20, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 17, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: STUDY00006271

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: Yes