Squeeze away hypertension? handgrip device put to the test

NCT ID NCT06843577

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now This study
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jul 24, 2026 · Last updated Jul 24, 2026

Summary

This trial tests whether using a handgrip device for isometric exercise can lower blood pressure in people with elevated blood pressure or hypertension who are not on medication. Half the participants will use the Zona Plus handgrip device, while the other half will listen to relaxing music as a control. The study aims to see if this simple, drug-free approach can meaningfully reduce systolic blood pressure after 10 weeks.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
isometric handgrip exercise therapy using the Zona Plus device
What this could lead to
If effective, handgrip therapy could offer a drug-free way to manage high blood pressure.
What could go wrong
This is a relatively small trial, and the effect may be modest or no better than relaxation therapy. Handgrip exercise may not be suitable for everyone.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 160 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Mar 2025

Expected to finish

Feb 2028

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

A company

The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

22 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Subject is male or female age 22 or older 2. Diagnosed with elevated blood pressure or hypertension and verified during Visit #1 by standardized seated cuff SBP 3. Have not taken antihypertensive medication for ≥30 days prior to the SEPV 4. Subject is expected to have sufficient vision, hearing, and hand strength (hand strength is demonstrated by a maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) equaling 35 units of force in both hands measured by a dynamometer 5. Subject has baseline BP measurements collected and completes study device training during Baseline Assessment (Visit #1); 6. Subject agrees to maintain non-use of medications and over-the-counter (OTC) supplement regimen related to hypertension throughout the treatment phase; 7. Patient can comply with and agrees to complete all required study procedures, study clinic visits, and associated activities; 8. Patient must be able to understand and give written informed consent in the language provided; 9. Subject must have SBP of 130 to ≤149 mmHg, if subjects present with SBP reading of ≥140mmHg they will receive heightened monitoring throughout the first month of the study Exclusion Criteria: 1. Subject is a female of childbearing potential (e.g., not postmenopausal for at least one year or has not had a hysterectomy or tubal ligation) not using medically effective birth control (e.g., hormonal methods in use at least 30 days prior to screening or barrier methods such as condom and spermicide in use at least 14 days prior to visit 1) or is pregnant, lactating, or plans to become pregnant during the study). 2. BP ≥150 mmHg (systolic) and/or \>90 mmHg (diastolic) 3. A history of heart failure with current New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III- IV functional classification 4. Currently has, or has had a history, of atrial fibrillation, in accordance with 2007 Heart Rhythm Society (HRS)/European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA)/European Cardiac Arrhythmia Society (ECAS) guidelines 5. Patient has experienced hospitalization due to a hypertensive emergency, with impending or progressive target organ dysfunction (i.e., renal dysfunction, left ventricular hypertrophy or CNS involvement) within the past six (6) months 6. A \>10 mmHg difference in seated cuff SBP between the right and left arms collected during the SEPV; 7. Unstable BP, defined as \>5 mmHg variance between any two (2) consecutive weekly readings (with a maximum of four (4) attempts) to determine a baseline BP measurement ; 8. Arm circumference greater than 45 cm; 9. Acute illness, infection, or inflammation 10. Presence of any unstable cardiovascular disorder, such as MI, unstable angina, significant arrhythmia, stroke, or TIA; within the last six (6) months, or other serious comorbidity that would be likely to impact life expectancy to less than one (1) year or limit patient cooperation or study compliance; 11. A history of rest or exertional angina pectoris in the previous six (6) months; 12. History of solid organ transplant 13. Any secondary form of hypertension (HTN) etiology, including but not limited to primary aldosteronism, chronic steroid therapy and Cushing syndrome, pheochromocytoma, aorta coarctation or untreated thyroid or parathyroid disease; 14. Concurrent participation in an investigational clinical study that has not completed the follow-up period or planned participation in another study within the next six (6) months; 15. Patient has any other condition or personal circumstance that, in the judgment of the investigator, might interfere with the collection of complete, good quality data or the completion of the research study; 16. Patients who currently own or have owned another Zona Plus device and are, or have been, voluntarily performing the isometric handgrip activities. 17. Subject plans for greater than 10% of body weight loss/gain (10% of body weight over a 6-month period) during the study

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

  1. The places running it

    10 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

    Open the record ↗

  3. A doctor treating you

    A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Aavon Clinical Trials

    RECRUITING

    Houston, Texas, 77074, United States

  • Bayview Research Group

    RECRUITING

    Valley Village, California, 91607, United States

  • Cedar Crosse Research Center

    RECRUITING

    Chicago, Illinois, 60607, United States

  • Circuit Clinical Grave Gilbert

    RECRUITING

    Bowling Green, Kentucky, 42101, United States

  • Community DPC

    RECRUITING

    Cleveland, Tennessee, 37312, United States

  • Comprehensive Medical & Research

    RECRUITING

    Plantation, Florida, 33317, United States

  • Focus Clinical Research

    RECRUITING

    West Hills, California, 91307, United States

  • Preferred Primary Care Physicians - Pittsburgh

    RECRUITING

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15243, United States

  • Preferred Primary Care Physicians - Washington

    RECRUITING

    Washington, Pennsylvania, 15301, United States

  • Zenos Clinical Research

    RECRUITING

    Dallas, Texas, 75230, United States

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