This trial will examine the effects of resistance exercise on blood pressure and cardiovascular risk in African Americans. The main outcome to be measured will be changes in blood pressure. This trial is being conducted in Chicago, Illinois.
The details
Managing blood pressure is important for patients with hypertension (high blood pressure). Blood pressure can be regulated using medication and/or lifestyle intervention. Exercise is particularly useful for reducing blood pressure. Resistance exercise involves using weights to increase the strength and mass of muscles.
This trial will invesitgate the effects of resistance exercise on blood pressure and cardiovascular risk. Effectiveness will be measured by a change in blood pressure over 24 weeks.
Who are they looking for?
This trial will recruit 140 participants. Participants must have been born to two African American or two non-Hispanic Caucasion parents. Participants must have blood pressure readings greater than 120/80 mmHg. They must currently lead a sedentary (not physically active) lifestyle.
Patients with blood pressure greater than 159/99 mmHg and taking more than one anti-hypertensive medication cannot take part in the trial. Other exclusion criteria include current or history of the following: cardiovascular disease and events (e.g. heart attack, stroke), diabetes, inflammatory or autoimmune disease, cancer, recent head injury (last 6 months), kidney or liver disease, tobacco use, alcohol or illegal drug abuse, seizures. Pregnant and postmenopausal women are also excluded from the trial.
How will it work
Participants will be randomly assigned to 2 groups: resistance training or aerobic training. During the trial participants will take part in 3 exercise sessions per week, lasting a maximum of 45 minutes each. Participants will be supervised by physical therapists or exercise physiologists during these sessions. Blood pressure and cardiovascular function will be measured at the beginning of the trial and 8, 16 and 24 weeks post-training. The trial will last 24 weeks.
The main outcome will be changes in blood pressure.
