Effect of Isometric Handgrip Exercise on Blood Pressure in Pregnant Women

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Isometric Handgrip Exercise: Isometric handgrip exercise performed at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction, consisting of four 2-minute contractions with one-minute rest intervals between efforts. The exercise is performed using a handgrip dynamometer.

Control Rest: Seated rest condition without exercise, used as a control comparison to the isometric handgrip intervention.

Study summary

Hypertension during pregnancy is a major public health concern, increasing the risk of cardiovascular complications for both the mother and the fetus. Women with chronic hypertension are at higher risk of adverse outcomes, and elevated blood pressure during pregnancy has also been associated with long-term cardiovascular and cognitive impairments.Regular physical activity is recognized as an effective non-pharmacological strategy to reduce blood pressure. Among different exercise modalities, isometric exercise has shown promising effects in lowering blood pressure in the general population, with minimal cardiovascular strain. However, its effects and safety in pregnant women, particularly those with hypertension, remain poorly understood.In addition to cardiovascular alterations, hypertension during pregnancy may also impact cognitive function, potentially through changes in cerebral perfusion and vascular function. Despite these associations, the combined cardiovascular and cognitive responses to exercise in this population have not been fully explored.This study aims to investigate the effects of isometric handgrip exercise on cardiovascular and cognitive responses in pregnant women with and without chronic hypertension, in order to better understand its potential as a safe and effective non-pharmacological intervention during pregnancy.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (ambulatory blood pressure measurement) — After sessions (24 hours)
  Post-exercise hypotension, using the Mobil-O-Graph (mmHg).

Trial sites (1)

Other trials for the same condition