Effect of Isometric Handgrip Exercise on Blood Pressure in Pregnant Women
Recruiting now · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Pregnancy, Pregnancy - Prenatal Testing, Hypertension (HTN)
In brief
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.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT07607795
- Run by
- University of Poitiers
- People needed
- 30
- Starts
- 2026-03-06
- Expected to finish
- 2027-09-30
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-05-26
Who can join
Age: 18 and older, up to 45. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Pregnant women covered by the French National Health Insurance system
- Pregnant women who do not object to participation in the study
- Women belonging to one of the following two groups:
- Women with chronic hypertension present before pregnancy (diagnosed within the past 5 years), defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg, without antihypertensive treatment
- Normotensive pregnant women, defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) < 90 mmHg before pregnancy
You may not qualify if…
- Current treatment for chronic or gestational hypertension
- Known cardiovascular disease other than chronic hypertension
- Age under 18 years
- Persons deprived of liberty
- Inability to speak or adequately understand French
- Persons hospitalized without consent who are not subject to legal protection measures, and persons admitted to a health or social institution for purposes other than research
- Persons currently excluded from participation in another research study
- Persons under judicial protection or guardianship Type 1 or type 2 diabetes
- Severe or extreme obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²)
- Thyroid disease
- Heavy smoking
Where it is running
- Faculty of Sport Science - MOVE Laboratory - UR 20296 — Poitiers, France (enrolling)
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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