Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT06618521

Effect of Pilates Exercise Versus Circuit Exercise Training on Gestational Hypertension

The purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of Pilates exercises versus circuit exercise training on blood pressure and lipids in gestational hypertensive women.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Gestational Hypertension Cardiovascular Diseases Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Hypertension Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced Pregnancy Complications Urogenital Diseases Vascular Diseases

Age range

25 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Cairo University

Giza, Egypt

About this study

Gestational hypertension is one of the most common disorders seen in human pregnancies. The disorder progresses into pre-eclampsia, a dangerous condition that can prove fatal to expectant mothers. If it is untreated several complications result such as eclampsia, stroke, the need for labor induction and placental abruption, preterm delivery, and low birth weight.

Most pregnant women use medication during pregnancy despite increasing availability of information about teratogenic risks. Medication use during pregnancy still causes uncertainty and concern among pregnant women and their health care providers. Medication use has a harmful effect on the fetus such as congenital anomalies, preterm birth, low birth weight, growth retardation of the fetus, and developmental delays in totality. It remains unknown what the major concerns are among pregnant women regarding medication use.

Health organizations recommend lifestyle changes that include increased levels of physical activity. Also, some researchers have recommended aerobic training for 30 minutes per day that is supplemented with resistance exercise.

Pilates exercises have been showed to be safe modality for pregnant women. It showed many benefits on childbirth. It also yields a significant decrease in clinical systolic and diastolic and mean blood pressure at rest and over 24 hours, in hypertensive non-pregnant women. Pilates may be recommended as a non-drug intervention for the prevention, treatment, and control hypertension. Circuit exercise training is also a non-drug intervention may reduce systemic arterial hypertension to lower cardiovascular risk.

Due to the progressive increase in maternal estrogen with pregnancy, maternal fat deposits switch from anabolic to catabolic states to maintain appropriate development of the fetus and placenta. This switch to catabolism increases the breakdown of fat stores, which increases total cholesterol and triglyceride available for maternal and fetal utilization. Further, it is essential for a normalized maternal lipid profile to ensure healthy fetal development and pregnancy outcomes.

Therefore, this study will be conducted to provide evidence based for the effectiveness of Pilates exercise and circuit training on blood pressure and lipid profile in gestational hypertensive women for healthcare providers interested in women's health.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • They will be diagnosed by obstetrician after 20 weeks' gestation as having blood pressure higher than 140/90 without any organ damage.
  • Age will range from 25-35 years old .
  • Body mass index (BMI) will range from 30-34.9 Kg/m².

Exclusion criteria

  • Cardiac problems
  • Cognitive problems
  • Poorly controlled hypertension
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Inflammatory stage of arthritis
  • Osteoporosis

Treatment and study plan

Anti-hypertensive drug (Methyldopa 250 mg)

Drug

Each women in the three groups will receive Medical treatment Anti-hypertensive drug (Methyldopa 250 mg) according to physician instructions.

Other names: Methyldopa 250 mg

pilates exercise

Other

Each women in the second group will receive Mat Pilates training exercise for 40 minutes/ day, 3 days/week, for 12 weeks beginning 20 weeks' gestation. The Pilates exercise includes pelvic floor exercise, deep tummy strengthening, pelvic tilt, upper back stretch, the cat stretch, thigh stretch, the sword, sword arm, and wagging the tail.

Circuit exercise training

Other

Each women in group C will receive circuit training exercises in form of single leg curl up and press, sumo squat and row to reverse fly stand for 40 minutes/ day, 3 days/ week, for 12 weeks beginning 20 weeks' gestation. The Circuit exercise training includes sumo squat, quadruped extension, row to reverse fly stand, and single leg curls up.

Primary outcomes

  1. Measurement of mean arterial blood pressure

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Pregnant women will be seated in a relaxed position with the arm supported on a table. A cuff will be secured around the bicep without excessive tightness. The cuff will be inflated while observing the aneroid monitor until the pressure reaches 20-30 mmHg above the usual blood pressure. A stethoscope will be placed below the cuff at the elbow crease, and the cuff will be gradually deflated. Systolic pressure will be recorded at the first Korotkoff sound, and diastolic pressure will be recorded when the sounds disappear. Mean arterial blood pressure will be measured for each pregnant woman in the three groups before and after the treatment procedures using the equation: MAP = 1/3 (SBP) + 2/3 (DBP).

  2. Assessment of serum triglycerides level

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    It will be assessed for each pregnant women in the three groups before and after the end of the treatment procedures.The blood samples will be collected after fasting for 9-12 hours. Participants will be asked to lie in half lying position with well supported back and arm, the antecubital area will be cleaned with alcohol. Blood sample of about 5cm will be drawn in the morning (at 8 clock) range between 7and 25 micrograms per deciliter (mcg-dl). Blood sample will be using disposable syringe and collected in sterilized tube.

  3. Assessment of serum total cholesterol level

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    It will be assessed for each pregnant women in the three groups before and after the end of the treatment procedures.The blood samples will be collected after fasting for 9-12 hours. Participants will be asked to lie in half lying position with well supported back and arm, the antecubital area will be cleaned with alcohol. Blood sample of about 5cm will be drawn in the morning (at 8 clock) range between 7and 25 micrograms per deciliter (mcg-dl). Blood sample will be using disposable syringe and collected in sterilized tube.

  4. Assessment of serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    It will be assessed for each pregnant women in the three groups before and after the end of the treatment procedures.The blood samples will be collected after fasting for 9-12 hours. Participants will be asked to lie in half lying position with well supported back and arm, the antecubital area will be cleaned with alcohol. Blood sample of about 5cm will be drawn in the morning (at 8 clock) range between 7and 25 micrograms per deciliter (mcg-dl). Blood sample will be using disposable syringe and collected in sterilized tube.

  5. Assessment of serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    It will be assessed for each pregnant women in the three groups before and after the end of the treatment procedures.The blood samples will be collected after fasting for 9-12 hours. Participants will be asked to lie in half lying position with well supported back and arm, the antecubital area will be cleaned with alcohol. Blood sample of about 5cm will be drawn in the morning (at 8 clock) range between 7and 25 micrograms per deciliter (mcg-dl). Blood sample will be using disposable syringe and collected in sterilized tube.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Assessment of level of stress and anxiety

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Visual analogue scale (VAS) will be used to assess the level of stress and anxiety for each pregnant woman in the three groups. VAS is a straight line; its ends are defined as the extreme limits of stress, with 0 indicates no stress and anxiety, while 10 indicates maximum stress and anxiety. The pregnant woman will select and marks on the line the suitable description of her stress level before and after the end of the treatment course.

  2. Assessment of serum cortisol level

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    It will be assessed for each pregnant women in the three groups before and after the end of the treatment procedures.The blood samples will be collected after fasting for 9-12 hours. Participants will be asked to lie in half lying position with well supported back and arm, the antecubital area will be cleaned with alcohol. Blood sample of about 5cm will be drawn in the morning (at 8 clock) range between 7and 25 micrograms per deciliter (mcg-dl). Blood sample will be using disposable syringe and collected in sterilized tube.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Cairo University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Oct 1, 2024
Registry last updated
Dec 19, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.