New data suggests that isometric handgrip training (IHT) might become a novel tool in the treatment of hypertension. The main purpose of this research project is to evaluate the effects of home-based IHT on ambulatory blood pressure in older adults with pre-hypertension and hypertension. Eighty-four older adults with pre-hypertension and hypertension will be randomly distributed to one of three groups: home-based IHT, home-based aerobic exercise training (AET), or attention-control group (CON). Each intervention will have a total duration of 8 weeks. At baseline and after completing the intervention, patients will undergo the following evaluations: 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure, cardiorespiratory fitness, endothelial function, damage and repair, arterial stiffness, inflammatory biomarkers, autonomic function, physical activity levels, dietary intake and quality of life. A qualitative analysis will also be applied to enhance the understanding of the efficacy of this intervention from the patient's perspective.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
84
The 8-week exercise program will include three sessions of isometric handgrip training per week
The 8-week exercise program will include three sessions of aerobic exercise per week
University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut, United States
Unidade de Saúde Familiar de Santa Joana
Santa Joana, Aveiro, Aveiro District, Portugal
University Institute of Maia
Maia, Porto District, Portugal
Hypertension Unit, Hospital Pedro Hispano, ULS, Matosinhos, Portugal
Matosinhos Municipality, Porto District, Portugal
Hospital Infante D. Pedro, Centro Hospitalar do Baixo Vouga, Aveiro, Portugal
Aveiro, Portugal
Institute of Biomedicine
Aveiro, Portugal
University of Aveiro
Aveiro, Portugal
Unidade de Saúde Familiar Serzedelo
Guimarães, Portugal
CINTESIS, Faculty of Medicine, Porto, Portugal
Porto, Portugal
Reserach Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development
Vila Real, Portugal
24h ambulatory blood pressure
Time frame: Change from baseline to 2 months
Arterial Stiffness
Assessed by application tonometry using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity as the gold-standard measure
Time frame: Change from baseline to 2 months
Endothelial function
Assessed by brachial artery dilation to endothelial-dependent stimuli using an ultrasound, according to the recommendations
Time frame: Change from baseline to 2 months
Inflamamtion
Plasma levels of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory biomarkers including C-reactive protein, Interleukin-10, total nitric oxide and nitrate/nitrite, endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase
Time frame: Change from baseline to 2 months
Endothelial cell repair/damage
Assessed by the circulating number of endothelial progenitor cells and circulating endothelial cells in a peripheral blood by flow cytometry.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 2 months
Health-related quality of life
Assessed by the Short-Form 36
Time frame: Change from baseline to 2 months
Aerobic fitness
Assessed by Chester Step Test
Time frame: Change from baseline to 2 months
Weekly physical activity sleep quality
Measured in seven consecutive days by accelerometry
Time frame: Change from baseline to 2 months
Intervention quality
Assessed by focus group interviews using semi-structured guide with the participants of the experimental groups
Time frame: two weeks after the intervention
Sleep quality
Measured in seven consecutive days by accelerometry
Time frame: Change from baseline to 2 months
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