Starting Strength coached barbell training program

Effects Of Progressive Barbell Strength Training On Cardiovascular And Metabolic Health Markers

NA · Mayo Clinic · NCT07578285

This 12-week coached Starting Strength barbell program tests whether supervised barbell training lowers blood pressure and improves metabolic measures in sedentary adults.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment200 (estimated)
Ages15 Years to 100 Years
SexAll
SponsorMayo Clinic (other)
Locations1 site (Scottsdale, Arizona)
Trial IDNCT07578285 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This interventional study enrolls sedentary adults to participate in a 12-week coached Starting Strength progressive barbell training program with three supervised sessions per week. The primary outcomes are changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure measured before and after the intervention, with pre- and post-intervention labs for lipid profile and fasting glucose. Participants undergo medical screening to confirm safety for resistance training and those with uncontrolled hypertension, significant cardiovascular, renal, or musculoskeletal contraindications are excluded. All training sessions take place at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, and participants must use the same laboratory company for baseline and follow-up blood tests.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Sedentary or minimally active adults aged 18–100 who are not currently in structured resistance training, can safely perform barbell exercises, and are willing to attend three supervised sessions per week for 12 weeks are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with uncontrolled hypertension, active cardiovascular, metabolic, or renal disease, musculoskeletal conditions preventing safe lifting, or recent changes in blood-pressure or lipid medications are unlikely to benefit or may be excluded.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this program could lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure and improve lipid and glucose measures, offering a supervised, nonpharmacologic option for cardiovascular risk reduction.

How similar studies have performed: Prior resistance training studies have produced modest reductions in blood pressure and favorable metabolic changes, but the Starting Strength coached barbell protocol has limited prior testing for these outcomes.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults aged 18-100 years
* Sedentary or minimally active (less than 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week)
* No participation in structured resistance training programs within the past 6 months.
* Able to safely participate in resistance training as determined by medical screening
* Willing to commit to 3 training sessions per week for 12 weeks
* Able to provide informed consent
* Willing to obtain pre- and post-intervention laboratory tests from the same laboratory company.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Current participation in structured resistance training programs
* Cardiovascular disease requiring activity restriction
* Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic BP \>180 mm Hg or diastolic BP \>110 mm Hg)
* Musculoskeletal conditions precluding safe barbell training
* Changes in lipid-lowering or antihypertensive medications within 3 months prior to enrollment
* Known cardiovascular, metabolic, or renal disease that would preclude safe participation in resistance training

Where this trial is running

Scottsdale, Arizona

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Blood Pressure, Lipid Profile, Fasting Glucose

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.