Handgrip Training for Vascular Health in Sedentary Lifestyle

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Florida State University

Disqualifiers: Chronic conditions, Pregnancy, Nicotine, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 8 weeks

40 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether squeezing a handgrip can improve blood vessel health in the brain for people who aren't very active. The handgrip exercise might lower blood pressure and boost overall vascular health. Participants will be divided into two groups: one will perform a stronger handgrip exercise, while the other will do a much lighter version for comparison. This trial suits individuals aged 18 to 35 who haven't been active recently and aren't dealing with serious health issues like heart or brain conditions. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could enhance brain health through simple exercises.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that isometric handgrip training is safe for improving vascular health?

Research shows that isometric handgrip training is generally safe. Studies have found that this exercise can significantly lower systolic blood pressure. Participants usually tolerate it well.

Other reports have used isometric handgrip training to assess health status and the risk of diseases like high blood pressure. No major negative effects have been linked to this exercise method, suggesting its safety.

Overall, evidence supports that isometric handgrip training safely improves heart and blood vessel health without serious side effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about handgrip training for vascular health in people with sedentary lifestyles because it offers a simple, non-invasive way to potentially improve cardiovascular health. Most treatments for vascular issues focus on medications and lifestyle changes like diet and exercise, which can be challenging to maintain. Handgrip training is unique because it targets vascular health directly through isometric exercises, which involve squeezing a handgrip at 30% of maximum strength to increase blood flow and potentially improve heart function. This method is easy to perform, doesn't require special equipment or a gym, and could be an accessible option for people who struggle with traditional exercise routines.

What evidence suggests that handgrip training is effective for improving brain blood vessel function?

Studies have shown that squeezing a handgrip can significantly lower resting blood pressure, reducing both systolic and diastolic numbers. Research also indicates it can lower resting heart rate and arterial pressure in individuals with normal blood pressure. For those with prehypertension, handgrip exercises effectively reduce blood pressure. These findings suggest that this exercise could improve vascular health, potentially benefiting blood vessels in the brain. In this trial, participants will undergo either an isometric handgrip training intervention at 30% of maximum grip strength or a sham comparator at 5% of maximum grip strength to evaluate effects on vascular health. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults who lead a sedentary lifestyle and are interested in participating in a study to improve brain blood vessel function. Specific eligibility criteria details were not provided, so participants should inquire about any additional requirements.

Inclusion Criteria

Body mass index ≤30 kg/m2 (without obesity)

Physically inactive in the last 6 months (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)

I am between 18 and 35 years old.

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

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo isometric handgrip training at 30% or 5% of maximum grip strength

8 weeks

Weekly visits for training and monitoring

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in cerebrovascular function and blood pressure

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Handgrip Training

Trial Overview

The study is testing whether using a handgrip trainer can help inactive adults lower their blood pressure and enhance the health of their brain's blood vessels. Participants will undergo isometric handgrip training as part of the research.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Isometric Handgrip Training - Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will perform moderate-intensity handgrip training three days per week for eight weeks using a handheld device.

Group II: Isometric Handgrip Training - Sham Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Participants will perform very low-intensity handgrip training three days per week for eight weeks using a handheld device.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Florida State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

234

Recruited

41,100+

Citations

1.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4225874/

Effect of Isometric Handgrip Exercise Training on Resting ...

Result: There was a significant reduction in resting blood pressure following 10 wk of exercise training. Both Systolic and Diastolic blood pressure reduced ...

2.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06601738

Isometric and Dynamic Handgrip Training Effects on ...

The main objective of this study will be to determine the effects of dynamic and isometric handgrip exercise training on cardiovascular parameters in ...

3.

saspublishers.com

saspublishers.com/article/7263/download/

Effect of Isometric Handgrip Training on Heart Rate and ...

The results of the study show that isometric handgrip training does reduce resting heart rate and arterial pressure in normotensive individuals. Hence this form ...

4.

bmccardiovascdisord.biomedcentral.com

bmccardiovascdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12872-021-01849-2

Aerobic exercise, but not isometric handgrip exercise ...

Regarding arterial stiffness, there is evidence showing increased PWV during isometric handgrip exercise [23] and after one exercise session [24] ...

5.

journals.lww.com

journals.lww.com/njcp/_layouts/15/oaks.journals/downloadpdf.aspx?an=01253091-201922120-00020

Isometric Handgrip Exercise Training Attenuates Blood ...

Conclusion: This study has shown that isometric handgrip exercise is effective in the attenuation of blood pressure in prehypertensive subjects ...

6.

withpower.com

withpower.com/trial/phase-inactivitylow-levels-of-exercise-9-2025-6fa99

Handgrip Training for Vascular Health in Sedentary Lifestyle

This study aims to investigate the effect of isometric handgrip training on brain blood vessel function in physically inactive adults.

7.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S156607022500013X

The effects of isometric handgrip and post-exercise ...

Further, handgrip exercise may be used to assess current health status and risk for developing diseases such as hypertension or cardiovascular disease.

8.

clinicalhypertension.biomedcentral.com

clinicalhypertension.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40885-022-00232-3

An evidence-based guide to the efficacy and safety of ...

Acute vascular responses to isometric handgrip exercise and effects of training in persons medicated for hypertension. Am J Physiol Heart ...

9.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cpf.12741

The impact of isometric handgrip exercise and training on ...

Most randomized controlled trials (17/26) reported reductions in resting blood pressure (mostly systolic blood pressure) following isometric ...