The Dose Response Effect of Isometric Handgrip Training Frequency on Blood Pressure in Normotensive Individuals

NCT06329804 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: RM_01-11-21b
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 2 countries
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

It is estimated by WHO (2021) that 1.4 billion individuals across the globe have high blood pressure with only 14% of people managing these elevated levels. Simple and effective lifestyle strategies are required to help people improve their blood pressure and/or attenuate increases in blood pressure with ageing. Exercise is one possible strategy: in previous research, several different types of exercise have been shown to have effects on blood pressure (Blackwell et al., 2017). However, many individuals do not adhere to currently recommended levels of exercise (150 mins of moderate intensity exercise per week), due to a combination of the required time commitment, lack of motivation, and the associated levels of effort / exertion and discomfort (Korkiakangas et al 2009). Thus, there is a need to investigate alternative exercise interventions which will overcome these barriers but remain effective at improving blood pressure (Herrod, Lund, \& Phillips, 2021). Low intensity isometric hand grip training (IHGT) has been shown to result in large decreases in rest-ing blood pressure in younger and older age groups, in both men and women, and in individuals with normal as well as elevated baseline blood pressure (Badrov et al, 2013; Bentley et al., 2018; Millar et al., 2014). In this research, IHGT has typically involved performing 4 x 2 IHGT holds at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction, 3 times a week, over a 4-8-week intervention (Millar et al, 2014). Interestingly, there are very few studies that have investigated the effect of changing different protocol parameters on the adaptations in blood pressure, and the minimal effective dose of IHGT is unknown. One important modifiable parameter is training frequency and it is unknown whether reducing the frequency of IHGT will reduce the efficacy for improving blood pressure. Therefore, the aim of this randomised controlled trial is to compare the effect of IHGT with a frequency of 2 or 4 sessions/week on resting blood pressure.

Conditions

Blood Pressure

Keywords

Blood Pressure; Isometric Handgrip Exercise; Dose Response; Training Frequency; Perceptual Responses

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Resting Systolic Blood Pressure

  Resting systolic blood pressure will be measured before training commences and then 3 days after the final exercise session.

  4 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Resting Diastolic Blood Pressure

  4 weeks

• Resting Mean Arterial Blood Pressure

  4 weeks

Other Outcomes (2)

• Ratings of perceived exertion

  4 Weeks (Week 1 and Week 4)

• Affective Valence

  4 Weeks (Week 1 and Week 4)

Study Arms (3)

No Intervention Control

NO INTERVENTION

Participants allocated to this group will maintain their usual lifestyle for 4-weeks

Two Sessions/Week

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants allocated to this group will complete 4-weeks of isometric handgrip exercise training with a frequency of two sessions/week

Other: Isometric Handgrip Exercise Training (IHGT)

Four Sessions/Week

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants allocated to this group will complete 4-weeks of isometric handgrip exercise training with a frequency of four sessions/week

Other: Isometric Handgrip Exercise Training (IHGT)

Interventions

Isometric Handgrip Exercise Training (IHGT) OTHER

Each IHGT session will consist of 4 x 2-minute contractions at 30% maximal voluntary contraction, with 2-minutes of rest in between, performed with the dominant hand. Training will be performed using an electronic hand dynamometer (Camry EH101, Zhongshan Camry Electronic Co. Ltd, Guangdong).

Four Sessions/Week; Two Sessions/Week

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Aged between 18 and 40 years
• Scoring 'low' on the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ)
• Apparently healthy with no indications of chronic disease according to a self-report health history questionnaire and the physical activity readiness questionnaire.
• Resting blood pressure \<140/90 mmHg during baseline assessment.

You may not qualify if:

• Aged \<18 or \>40 years
• Previously diagnosed with hypertension and/or currently taking anti-hypertensive medication.
• Any contraindication to exercise based on responses to the self-report health-history questionnaire or the physical activity readiness questionnaire.
• Scoring moderate or high on the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ).
• Resting blood pressure \>140/90 mmHg during baseline assessment.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Swansea University: lead
• National Taiwan Normal University: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

National Taiwan Normal University

Taipei, Taiwan

Location

Swansea University

Swansea, United Kingdom

Location

Study Officials

• Richard Metcalfe, PhD

  Swansea University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 19, 2024
• First Posted: March 26, 2024
• Study Start: November 1, 2021
• Primary Completion: May 31, 2024
• Study Completion: May 31, 2024
• Last Updated: December 3, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TW (1); GB (1)