Chronic Effect of Isometric Exercise on Blood Pressure in Patients With Hypertension

NCT ID: NCT07147595

Last Updated: 2025-08-29

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 66 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-08-31
• Study Completion Date: 2025-02-28

Brief Summary

International recommendations support dynamic or isometric strength training as an adjunct to aerobic exercise. Given the lack of consensus, this study aims to evaluate the chronic effects of isometric exercise, performed through handgrip or isometric knee extension, as a hypotensive strategy in adults with hypertension.

Detailed Description

This study is designed as a randomized, controlled, evaluator-blinded clinical trial, conducted entirely at the Laboratory of Clinical Investigation (LCI) of the Cardiology Institute of Rio Grande do Sul / University Foundation of Cardiology (ICFUC). The project follows all recommendations of the CONSORT Statement.

Male and female participants aged 40 to 70 years, with blood pressure ≥ 120/80 mmHg, will be enrolled. After signing informed consent, participants will complete a questionnaire to assess their habitual physical activity level and will undergo isometric handgrip or isometric knee extension training for 4 weeks. Blood pressure will be assessed at baseline and after the intervention using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM).

Conditions

Hypertension (HTN); Hypertension Arterial

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Control

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Isometric handgrip exercise

Small Mass Muscle - isometric handgrip exercise

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Isometric handgrip exercise

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Participants will train 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Each session will consist of four sets of 2-minute contractions sustained at 30% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), performed with a handgrip device for each arm, with 1-minute rest intervals between sets and between arms.

Isometric knee extension exerice

Large Mass Muscule - isometric knee extension exercise

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Isometric knee extension exercise

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Participants will train 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Each session will consist of four sets of 2-minute contractions sustained at 30% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), performed with adjustable ankle weights for each leg, with 1-minute rest intervals between sets and between legs.

Interventions

Isometric handgrip exercise

Participants will train 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Each session will consist of four sets of 2-minute contractions sustained at 30% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), performed with a handgrip device for each arm, with 1-minute rest intervals between sets and between arms.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Isometric knee extension exercise

Participants will train 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Each session will consist of four sets of 2-minute contractions sustained at 30% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), performed with adjustable ankle weights for each leg, with 1-minute rest intervals between sets and between legs.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Patients with controlled hypertension under medication. Sedentary or physically inactive individuals.

Exclusion Criteria

Pregnant women. Unstable angina. Heart failure classified as NYHA class II, III, or IV. Recent cardiovascular event within the last 3 months. Chronic renal insufficiency. Diabetes mellitus. History of malignant disease with a life expectancy of less than 2 years. Orthopedic, physical, or mental limitations that prevent the performance of physical exercise.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 70 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Patricia Caetano

PhD student

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Alexandre Lehnen, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul

Locations

Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul

Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Countries

Brazil

Other Identifiers

UP5965-21

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id