Recruiting

Handgrip Exercise

Sponsor:

McMaster University

Code:

NCT07648498

Conditions

Hypertension

Elevated Blood Pressure

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 65+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Zona Plus 4-Week Isometric Handgrip Exercise Intervention

Squegg 4-Week Isometric Handgrip Exercise Intervention

Study Details

Brief summary:

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a short, supervised isometric handgrip exercise program is feasible and acceptable for older adults with elevated blood pressure or hypertension. It will also explore whether this type of exercise may improve blood pressure and cognitive function.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • Is this handgrip exercise program practical and acceptable for older adults to participate in within a community exercise setting?
  • Does participation in the program lead to changes in blood pressure and cognitive function?

Researchers will compare two handgrip devices to determine whether the method of delivering the exercise influences feasibility and outcomes.

Participants will:

  • Be randomly assigned to use one of two handgrip devices.
  • Complete supervised exercise sessions twice per week for 4 weeks.
  • Perform brief handgrip contractions at a set intensity during each session.
  • Complete blood pressure and cognitive assessments before and after the program.

Conditions

Hypertension

Elevated Blood Pressure

Study ID

NCT07648498

Start date

Aug 18, 2026

Status verified date

Oct, 2026

Completion date

Apr 15, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Apr 15, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 65+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 65 years of age or older
  • Currently attending the Physical Activity Centre of Excellence at McMaster University
  • English speaking
  • Diagnosed with hypertension or elevated blood pressure

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current or prior participation in chronic isometric exercise
  • Unstable angina.
  • Uncontrolled hypertension
  • Uncontrolled heart failure and/or arrhythmias
  • Recent myocardial infarction or electrocardiography changes
  • Complete heart block
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Arthritis that may be aggravated by handgrip exercise
  • Changes to the type and/or dose of blood pressure medications within 3 months of starting the study.

Study Design

Enrollment

30 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Other

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

active comparator: Squegg Handgrip Device

Participants in this arm will complete a supervised, 4-week isometric handgrip exercise intervention using the Squegg smartphone-compatible handgrip device.

active comparator: Zona Plus Handgrip Device

Participants in this arm will complete a supervised, 4-week isometric handgrip exercise intervention using the Zona Plus handgrip dynamometer.

Interventions

Zona Plus 4-Week Isometric Handgrip Exercise Intervention

This intervention consists of a supervised, low-dose isometric handgrip exercise program delivered over 4 weeks using the Zona Plus handgrip dynamometer. Participants will complete two sessions per week, each consisting of 4x2-minute isometric handgrip contractions performed at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction, with 1-minute rest periods between contractions. Contractions will be performed using alternating hands. All sessions will be conducted in person and supervised by trained research staff at the Physical Activity Centre of Excellence, and the intervention will completed before participants' existing exercise routines. Ratings of perceived exertion will be recorded following each contraction.

Squegg 4-Week Isometric Handgrip Exercise Intervention

This intervention consists of a supervised, low-dose isometric handgrip exercise program delivered over 4 weeks using the Squegg handgrip device. Participants will complete two sessions per week, each consisting of 4x2-minute isometric handgrip contractions performed at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction, with 1-minute rest periods between contractions. Contractions will be performed using alternating hands. All sessions will be conducted in person and supervised by trained research staff at the Physical Activity Centre of Excellence, and the intervention will completed before participants' existing exercise routines. Ratings of perceived exertion will be recorded following each contraction.

Primary outcome measure

  • Change in Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale Score [ Time Frame: Baseline and Week 4. ]
  • Qualitative Acceptability (Interviews) of the Intervention [ Time Frame: Week 4. ]
  • Recruitment Rate [ Time Frame: Recruitment period, anticipated up to 3 months. ]
  • Intervention Adherence (Session Attendance) [ Time Frame: Week 4. ]
  • High Attendance Rate [ Time Frame: Week 4 ]
  • Retention Rate [ Time Frame: Week 4. ]
  • Protocol Fidelity [ Time Frame: Week 4. ]
  • Adverse Events (Safety) [ Time Frame: Over the testing and intervention period, 4 weeks. ]
  • Participant Reported Safety (Qualitative) [ Time Frame: Week 4. ]
  • Reasons for Withdrawal [ Time Frame: Over the intervention period, 4 weeks. ]
  • Assessment Feasibility [ Time Frame: Week 4. ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Ava Neely, BHK

4039735863neelya@mcmaster.ca

Jennifer Heisz, PhD

heiszjj@mcmaster.ca

Locations

NeuroFit Lab, Ivor Wynne Centre, McMaster University

Recruiting

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Contacts

Jennifer Heisz, PhD

905-525-9140heiszjj@mcmaster.ca

Principal Investigator:

Jennifer Heisz, PhD

Physical Activity Centre of Excellence, Ivor Wynne Centre, McMaster University

Recruiting

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Contacts

Jennifer Heisz, PhD

905-525-9140heiszjj@mcmaster.ca

Principal Investigator:

Jennifer Heisz, PhD

More Information

Sponsor

McMaster University

Last update posted

Oct 7, 2026

Last verified

Oct, 2026

Keywords

  • Older Adults
  • Isometric Handgrip Exercise
  • Hypertension
  • Feasibility
  • Cognition
  • Exercise Intervention
  • Blood Pressure
  • Community-based exercise
  • Pilot study
  • Aging
  • Acceptability
  • Handgrip training
  • Isometric Exercise
  • Cognitive function
  • Cardiovascular health

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-10-08. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by McMaster University on 2026-10-07. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.