Dynamic and Isometric Strength Training in Older Adults With Hypertension

Official title

Effects of Dynamic Strength Training and Isometric Strength Training on Cardiovascular Health Indicators, Mental Health, and Neuromuscular Fitness in Older Adults With Hypertension: A Feasibility Study

Overview

This feasibility study aims to evaluate the effects of dynamic strength training and isometric strength training on cardiovascular health indicators, mental health, and neuromuscular fitness in older adults with hypertension. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two training modalities and will complete supervised exercise sessions throughout the intervention period. The study will provide preliminary evidence regarding the safety, acceptability, and potential impact of each training modality on health outcomes in this population.

Interventions

• Behavioral Dynamic Strength Training
  The experimental group will perform dynamic strength exercises targeting major muscle groups, progressing in intensity and volume over the 6 weeks. Exercises include 8 major muscle group movements, initially 2 sets of 15 repetitions (Borg 4-6), progressing to 3 sets of 10 repetitions (Borg 5-7) from week 5. Participants will also be advised to perform non-supervised walking 3-5 times per week for \~30 minutes at moderate intensity.
• Behavioral Isometric Strength Training
  The experimental group will perform isometric strength exercises targeting major muscle groups, progressing in intensity and volume over the 6 weeks. Exercises include 8 major muscle group contractions, initially 2 sets of 60 seconds (Borg 4-6), progressing to 3 sets of 40 seconds (Borg 5-7) from week 5. Participants will also be advised to perform non-supervised walking 3-5 times per week for \~30 minutes at moderate intensity.
• Behavioral No supervised intervention Control
  This group serves as a control and will not perform any structured exercise program.

Primary outcome measures

• Recruitment rate [Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks]
• Adherence to training sessions [Time frame: During 6 weeks]
• Retention rate [Time frame: During 6 weeks]
• Fidelity to exercise protocol [Time frame: Duiring 6 weeks]
• Acceptability of the intervention [Time frame: During 6 weeks]
• Occurrence of adverse events [Time frame: During 6 weeks]

Secondary outcome measures (12)

• Change from baseline in Clinical resting blood pressure at 6 weeks [Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks]
• Change from baseline in Home blood pressure monitoring at 6 weeks [Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks]
• Change from baseline in Flow-mediated dilation at 6 weeks [Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks]
• Change from baseline in Standard deviation of normal R-R intervals at 6 weeks [Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks]
• Change from baseline in Arterial stiffness at 6 weeks [Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks]
• Change from baseline in Depressive symptoms at 6 weeks [Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks]
• Change from baseline in Anxiety symptoms at 6 weeks [Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks]
• Change from baseline in Six-Minute Walk Test distance at 6 weeks [Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks]
• Change from baseline in Root mean square of successive differences between R-R intervals at 6 weeks [Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks]
• Change from baseline in Proportion of successive R-R intervals differing by more than 50 milliseconds at 6 weeks [Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks.]
• Change from baseline in Low-frequency spectral power at 6 weeks [Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks.]
• Change from baseline in high-frequency power at 6 weeks [Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks.]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of arterial hypertension and currently taking antihypertensive medication
• Age 60 years or older
• Resting blood pressure below 160/95 mmHg
• No high cardiovascular risk according to the American College of Sports Medicine criteria (for participants with type 2 diabetes, glycemic control with fasting glucose <100 mg/dL and postprandial glucose <140 mg/dL)
• Not participating in a structured exercise program for more than three months
• No cognitive or functional limitations that prevent participation in the exercise program

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of acute illnesses, such as influenza, sinusitis, gastroenteritis, urinary tract infection, fever, inflammatory processes, or any clinical condition requiring rest or that may compromise safety during assessments or training.
• Decompensated clinical conditions, including: Blood pressure spikes, Chest pain, Uncontrolled arrhythmias, Shortness of breath at rest, Asthma exacerbations, Decompensated diabetes mellitus, characterized by Persistently elevated blood glucose levels (fasting glucose > 180 mg/dL or postprandial glucose > 250 mg/dL)
• Irregular use of medication
• Any unstable clinical condition or condition that represents additional risk for the practice of physical exercise.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Open label

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

Brazil · 1 center

• Uninove — São Paulo

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07448818 · DYNISO-HT

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗