Inspiratory muscle training to lower blood pressure in postmenopausal women

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of high-resistance inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST) in reducing systolic blood pressure and improving vascular endothelial function in postmenopausal women with elevated blood pressure. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the IMST group or a standard aerobic exercise group, which involves brisk walking for 150 minutes per week. The study aims to confirm previous pilot findings that suggested IMST could lower blood pressure more significantly than aerobic exercise while also being a time-efficient intervention. The trial will measure changes in blood pressure and endothelial function over the course of the intervention.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Postmenopausal women (\>12 months of amenorrhea)
* Estrogen deficient (no hormone therapies within the previous 12 months)
* Age 50 years and older
* Ability to provide informed consent
* Willing to accept random assignment to condition
* Resting systolic blood pressure of 120 mmHg or greater
* Body mass index \<40 kg/m2
* Weight stable in the prior 3 months (\<2 kg weight change) and willing to remain weight stable throughout study
* No change in blood pressure medications or other medications (prescription or dosing) in the prior 3 months and willing to maintain current medication regimen
* Free from clinical disease with the exception of hypertension

Exclusion Criteria:

* Younger than age 50 years
* Early menopause (menopause before age 45 years)
* Having had a hysterectomy
* History of uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure \>180 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure \>120 mmHg)
* Current smoker
* Alcohol dependence or abuse
* Abnormal blood pressure response to exercise (drop in systolic blood pressure below resting levels or systolic blood pressure \>260 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure \>115 mmHg)
* Regular vigorous aerobic/endurance exercise (\>4 bouts/week, \>30 min/bout at a workload \>6 METS)

Where it's running

• Integrative Physiology of Aging Laboratory
  Boulder, Colorado, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Douglas R Seals, PhD — University of Colorado, Boulder
• Study coordinator: Daniel H Craighead, PhD
• Email: imststudy@colorado.edu
• Phone: 303-492-3010

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.