Home-based isometric wall-squat exercise plus lifestyle advice for managing high blood pressure

Feasibility and Acceptability of Remote Home-Based Isometric Exercise and Lifestyle Change for the Management of Hypertension

This project will try a 12-week home wall-squat isometric exercise program combined with lifestyle advice to see if it helps lower blood pressure in people with hypertension.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 70 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Northumbria University (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Newcastle upon Tyne)
• Trial ID: NCT07213479 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Participants will complete supervised isometric exercise sessions in a wall-squat position three times per week for 12 weeks, performed at home with remote online supervision by an exercise professional. Lifestyle change advice consistent with current guidelines will be provided alongside the exercise program. The study will collect blood pressure measurements and explore participants' experiences, attitudes, and barriers to participation to determine practical acceptability. Eligibility requires a diagnosis of hypertension with stable antihypertensive medication and excludes people with other cardiovascular disease, secondary hypertension, or musculoskeletal/neurological limitations.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults diagnosed with primary hypertension per guidelines who are on stable antihypertensive treatment, have office BP below 180/110 mmHg, are not currently in a structured exercise program, and can safely perform wall-squat isometric exercises.

Not a fit: Patients with secondary hypertension, existing cardiovascular disease beyond hypertension, BMI greater than 35 kg/m2, or orthopaedic/neurological conditions that prevent safe isometric exercise are unlikely to benefit from this program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a simple, home-based way to lower blood pressure and reduce cardiovascular risk for people with hypertension.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown isometric exercise can reduce blood pressure, but home-based wall-squat programs with remote supervision remain relatively novel and need feasibility data.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of Arterial Hypertension (AH) in accordance with NICE guidelines.
* Under pharmacological treatment for AH with antihypertensive drug, type and dose maintained for the previous four months.
* Blood Pressure with values \<180 and \<110 mmHg for office systolic and diastolic BP, respectively.
* Not currently engaged in any structured or supervised exercise training programme, including resistance, aerobic, or isometric exercise, defined as planned exercise performed ≥2 times per week at moderate or greater intensity, for at least three months prior to enrolment.
* Written informed consent provided.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Body mass index \>35 kg/m2.
* Presence of cardiovascular disease beyond hypertension.
* Known orthopaedic, musculoskeletal, or neurological conditions that restrain isometric exercise execution.
* Presence of secondary hypertension
* Inability to follow verbal instructions or complete study protocol

Where this trial is running

Newcastle upon Tyne

• Northumbria University — Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Gabriel Cucato, PhD — Northumbria University
• Study coordinator: Helen Llewellyn, MSc

Conditions: Hypertension, Isometric Exercise, Wall Squat, Cardiovascular Disease, Lifestyle Change, Blood Pressure