Resistance Training for High Blood Pressure

(HEART Trial)

Overseen By Renaud Tremblay, M.Sc.

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Université de Sherbrooke

Disqualifiers: Orthopedic limitations, Unstable hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, Cardiovascular event, Others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 7

36 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how different types of resistance training affect high blood pressure in women aged 50 to 70. Specifically, it examines whether lifting lighter or heavier weights has a greater impact on lowering blood pressure immediately after exercise and throughout the day. Participants will engage in two types of workouts—one with lighter weights and one with heavier weights—and a non-exercise activity for comparison. Women who haven't been exercising regularly and have normal-high blood pressure or mild hypertension are likely suitable candidates. The trial aims to determine which exercise routine is more enjoyable and effective for managing blood pressure. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the opportunity to explore personalized exercise strategies for better blood pressure management.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that these resistance training protocols are safe for aging females?

Previous studies have shown that resistance training is a safe and effective way to improve heart health for both healthy individuals and those with heart conditions. For those interested in low-load resistance exercise (using lighter weights), research suggests it is a practical option for managing high blood pressure. This type of exercise does not cause major changes in blood pressure like aerobic workouts do, making it a low-risk choice.

For high-load resistance exercise (using heavier weights), studies indicate that while blood pressure might increase during the workout, this approach remains safe for most people. This increase is temporary and depends on the weight and number of repetitions.

Both low-load and high-load resistance exercises are generally well-tolerated, with no significant negative effects reported in the research. However, consulting a healthcare professional before starting any new exercise routine is always advisable. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using resistance training for high blood pressure because it offers a drug-free approach to managing the condition. Unlike standard treatments like antihypertensive medications, which work chemically to lower blood pressure, resistance training leverages physical exercise to naturally strengthen the cardiovascular system. The trial is exploring both low-load and high-load resistance exercises, which might provide flexible options for individuals with different fitness levels. This approach not only targets blood pressure but also promotes overall physical health, making it a holistic option for managing hypertension.

What evidence suggests that this trial's resistance training protocols could be effective for high blood pressure?

This trial will compare different resistance training approaches for managing high blood pressure. Research has shown that strength training can help lower blood pressure. Specifically, studies have found that lifting weights significantly reduces blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure. Participants in this trial may engage in low-load resistance exercise, using lighter weights, which has been shown to lower blood pressure without medication. Alternatively, some participants will perform high-load resistance exercise with heavier weights, which can also reduce blood pressure, especially when done with moderate to high effort. Both lighter and heavier weight exercises show promise for managing blood pressure in older women. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Eléonor Riesco, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Université de Sherbrooke

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for aging females with high blood pressure. Participants should be able to perform resistance training exercises and undergo blood pressure monitoring. Specific eligibility details are not provided, but typically participants must meet certain health criteria.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 50 and 70 years old.

Physically inactive (< 150 minutes of structured aerobic physical activity per week)

My blood pressure is either normal-high or at stage 1 hypertension.

Exclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

I am scheduled for surgery during the study period.

I started hormone replacement therapy less than 4 months ago.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Preliminary Assessment

Preliminary assessment visit to collect baseline data such as resting heart rate, blood pressure, and metabolic profile

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Familiarization

Two sessions to familiarize participants with the exercises and the concept of perceived effort

2 weeks

2 visits (in-person)

Experimental

Participants undergo three experimental conditions: control, low-load resistance exercise, and high-load resistance exercise

3 weeks

3 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in blood pressure and other health metrics post-exercise

24 hours post each experimental condition

Continuous monitoring

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Resistance Training

Trial Overview

The study compares the effects of low (50% of max strength) and high (80% of max strength) intensity resistance training on blood pressure, heart artery function, and enjoyment levels in aging females against a non-exercise control activity.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Condition LL-RE Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Low-load resistance exercise

Group II: Condition HL-RE Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

High-load resistance exercise

Group III: Condition CON Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Control condition

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Université de Sherbrooke

Lead Sponsor

Trials

317

Recruited

79,300+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 25 patients with controlled hypertension, resistance exercise led to a significant increase in systolic blood pressure immediately after workouts, but diastolic pressure remained stable, indicating a safe acute response to this type of exercise.

The research suggests that while resistance exercise is generally safe for patients with hypertension, exercising larger muscle groups like the femoral quadriceps at high intensity may cause a greater increase in systolic blood pressure.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pressure response after resistance exercise for different body segments in hypertensive people. Battagin, AM., Dal Corso, S., Soares, CL., et al.[2019]

Isometric resistance training (IRT) has been shown to significantly lower blood pressure by an average of 7.4/3.3 mmHg, which is comparable to the effects of antihypertensive medications, and can reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events by 13% to 22%.

IRT is safe for a variety of patient populations and is particularly beneficial for individuals who cannot engage in aerobic exercise or have resistant hypertension, requiring only about 17 minutes of training per week.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An evidence-based guide to the efficacy and safety of isometric resistance training in hypertension and clinical implications. Baffour-Awuah, B., Pearson, MJ., Dieberg, G., et al.[2023]

Dynamic resistance training can be safely included in cardiac rehabilitation for selected patients, as it does not pose a higher risk than aerobic training when properly supervised and tailored to individual needs.

Low-intensity resistance training (40-60% of maximum voluntary contraction) with controlled repetitions leads to only modest increases in blood pressure, similar to moderate endurance training, making it a viable option for improving muscle strength and cardiovascular health in patients with good cardiac function.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Recommendations for resistance exercise in cardiac rehabilitation. Recommendations of the German Federation for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation. Bjarnason-Wehrens, B., Mayer-Berger, W., Meister, ER., et al.[2019]

Citations

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pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12452289/

Acute Blood Pressure Changes Following Resistance ...

Conclusion: Resistance exercise increases SBP regardless of intensity, with the squat and deadlift producing the most significant changes, while ...

2.

nature.com

nature.com/articles/s41598-022-26583-3

Strength training for arterial hypertension treatment

The strongest effect of strength training on decreasing blood pressure was observed in protocols with a moderate to vigorous load intensity (> ...

3.

ahajournals.org

ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/hypertensionaha.111.177071

Impact of Resistance Training on Blood Pressure and ...

Overall, resistance training induced a significant blood pressure reduction in 28 normotensive or prehypertensive study groups [−3.9 (−6.4; −1.2)/ ...

4.

bjsm.bmj.com

bjsm.bmj.com/content/57/20/1317

Exercise training and resting blood pressure: a large-scale ...

Secondary network meta-analyses revealed isometric wall squat and running as the most effective submodes for reducing SBP (90.4%) and DBP (91.3%), respectively.

5.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06845514?term=AREA%5BBasicSearch%5D(heart%20disease%20OR%20blood%20disease)&rank=1

Impact of Resistance Training Intensity on Blood Pressure

Given that high-intensity load resistance training (≥ 75-80% 1-RM) is currently suggested and associated with chronic reductions in resting systolic blood ...

6.

ahajournals.org

ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001189

Resistance Exercise Training in Individuals With and ...

Resistance training is a safe and effective approach for improving cardiovascular health in adults with and without cardiovascular disease.

7.

bmcsportsscimedrehabil.biomedcentral.com

bmcsportsscimedrehabil.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13102-025-01097-3

Blood pressure changes during different methods of ...

No significant differences in systolic blood pressure changes were found between the resistance training methods and aerobic exercise when ...

8.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0024320518304521

Blood pressure response between resistance exercise with ...

During traditional exercise with moderate/high load, BP tends to increase according to the load and/or volume of exercise (repetitions or sets) ...

9.

frontiersin.org

frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.00481/full

Blood Pressure Increase in Hypertensive Individuals ...

A large and sharp increase in SBP is observed during the execution of a resistance exercise and may trigger the rupture of a pre-existent ...