Effects of Isometric Leg Exercise on Blood Pressure and Heart Health in Physically Inactive Adults Aged 18 to 55

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating how isometric exercise training IET affects blood pressure and cardiovascular health in adults who are physically inactive. This study aims to understand both the immediate and long-term effects of IET, which involves sustained muscle contractions without movement, on blood pressure. The research also seeks to explore the physiological mechanisms behind these effects, such as heart rate variability and muscle fatigue. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups two groups will perform repeated isometric leg extension exercises on a dynamometer three times a week for four weeks, with one group receiving neutral information about the exercise and the other receiving an expectation-enhancing presentation about its benefits. A third group will not perform any exercise and will only attend assessment visits. The exercise sessions involve four repetitions of 2-minute contractions at 30% of maximum strength with rest periods between bouts. During the study, participants will undergo multiple measurements including resting blood pressure, heart rate variability, and electromyography to track muscle activity and fatigue. Immediate blood pressure responses after exercise will be assessed early in the intervention, while chronic changes will be evaluated after approximately four weeks. The study includes regular lab visits over the 4-week period and monitors both cardiovascular and neuromuscular outcomes to better understand the effects of isometric exercise training.

Blood Pressure Following Isometric Exercise in Inactive Adults