Hypertension affects more than half of those participating in cardiac rehabilitation, highlighting the importance of managing blood pressure in cardiac rehabilitation patients. Isometric handgrip training (a form of isometric resistance training that uses a static muscular contraction) is endorsed in clinical practice guidelines as a way of lowering blood pressure, and research supports its safety in cardiac rehabilitation patients. However, its implementation as an additional tool to manage blood pressure in a cardiac rehabilitation setting is under investigation.

Therefore, the focus of the research is to describe, from the perspective of healthcare professionals working in an outpatient exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation program, potential barriers and facilitators to delivering isometric handgrip training (a form of isometric resistance training that uses a static muscular contraction) in an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation setting.

No previous knowledge of isometric handgrip training is needed to participate in this study.