RecruitingNot Applicable

Examining the Circadian Timing Effects of the Hypotensive Response to Exercise

United States30 participantsStarted 2025-07-22

Plain-language summary

The goal of this study is to learn how exercise timing affects blood pressure in adults with elevated or high blood pressure. Exercise can influence the body's natural 24-hour rhythms, including blood pressure patterns. A single exercise session can lower blood pressure for up to 24 hours, but it is not fully understood how the time-of-day for exercise affects this response. The main question this study aims to answer is: • When the same participant exercises at different times of day (morning, afternoon, or evening), how does this affect the participant's blood pressure over the next 24 hours? Participants will: * Undergo an in-lab assessment of individual biological rhythm that will indicate the clock-time for an individual's biological night * Complete 3 supervised treadmill exercise sessions * 1 in the biological morning (biological night + 10 hours) * 1 in the biological afternoon (biological night + 15 hours) * 1 in the biological evening (biological night + 20 hours) * Complete a 24-hour blood pressure assessment before and after each exercise session

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 39 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * 18-39 Years old * Resting blood pressure greater than or equal to 120/80 mmHg or less than 140/90 mmHg Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis or history of chronic or autoimmune disease (i.e., cardiovascular, metabolic, renal, endocrine, cancer) * Diagnosis or history of sleep disorder (i.e., obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, restless leg syndrome) * Alcohol or drug dependence * Elevated risk for sleep disorders * Elevated risk for clinical depression * Normotensive (blood pressure less than 120/80 mmHg) or stage 2+ hypertension (blood pressure greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg) * Body mass index less than 18.5 or greater than 35 kg/m2 * Self-reported use of sleep medications/supplements (e.g., melatonin) * Self-reported use of medications influencing vascular physiology (e.g., antihypertensive medications, weight loss medications) * Highly physically active (greater than or equal to 300 minutes moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week) * Currently pregnant or breastfeeding * Current tobacco use (greater than or equal to 1 cigarette in the past month) * Nighttime or rotating shift work within the last 3 months * Contraindications to aerobic exercise

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Average daytime systolic blood pressure

Timeframe: 24-hours

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07049783

SponsorFreda Patterson

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-09

Contact for this trial

Freda Patterson, PhD

302-831-6588 fredap@udel.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Young Adults trials