Home Isometric Exercise and Lifestyle Advice for High Blood Pressure
Tests a home wall squat exercise with lifestyle advice in adults with high blood pressure.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Feasibility and Acceptability of Isometric Exercise and Lifestyle Change for the Management of Hypertension
Key facts
- Where
- Newcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomSee the site
Where in United Kingdom
- Northumbria UniversityNewcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Northumbria University
- Trial code
- NCT07213479
- Record updated
- 3 August 2026
- Original description
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and may contribute to poor health and premature death. The purpose of this research is to learn if a home-based isometric exercise programme combined with lifestyle change advice is a practical and acceptable method for people diagnosed with hypertension to manage their condition. Isometric exercise involves a muscle contraction without movement of the limbs and previous research has shown this may be effective for reducing blood pressure. Therefore, this study will explore the experiences, thoughts, attitudes, and barriers to participation. It will also examine the effect the isometric exercise has on blood pressure.Read full original descriptionShow less
Feasibility and Acceptability of Remote Home-Based Isometric Exercise and Lifestyle Change for the Management of Hypertension
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and may contribute to poor health and premature death. The purpose of this research is to learn if a home-based isometric exercise programme combined with lifestyle change advice is a practical and acceptable method for people diagnosed with hypertension to manage their condition. Isometric exercise involves a muscle contraction without movement of the limbs and previous research has shown this may be effective for reducing blood pressure. Therefore, this study will explore the experiences, thoughts, attitudes, and barriers to participation. It will also examine the effect the isometric exercise has on blood pressure.
Participants will undertake an isometric exercise programme using a wall squat position, 3 times per week, for 12 weeks. The exercise sessions will be completed at home with remote online supervision by an exercise professional. Lifestyle change advice will given in line with current guidelines to promote healthy behaviours to reduce high blood pressure. After 12 weeks, participants will be encouraged to continue with the wall squat exercise for a further 12-weeks unsupervised. Throughout the study, participants' blood pressure and daily activity will be recorded using a smartwatch device.
Upon completion of the study, participants will be interviewed to gather their views and opinions on the programme. Changes in blood pressure will be evaluated at 12 and 24 weeks.
By exploring whether lifestyle advice and an isometric exercise programme is a feasible and acceptable method for hypertensive people to manage their condition and how this influences blood pressure, this research may aid in the development of a strategy to manage hypertension.
Inclusion: 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. Participants may engage in habitual physical activity; however, those meeting current physical activity recommendations (≥150 min·week-¹ of moderate-intensity or ≥75 min·week-¹ of vigorous-intensity activity, or an equivalent combination) will be excluded. Physical activity levels will be ascertained using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ); Written informed consent provided.
Exclusion: Presence of cardiovascular disease beyond hypertension; Known orthopaedic, musculoskeletal, or neurological conditions that restrain isometric exercise execution; Presence of secondary hypertension; Body mass index >35 kg/m2; Inability to follow verbal instructions or complete study protocol.