Delivering clinical studies of exercise in the COVID-19 pandemic: challenges and adaptations using a feasibility trial of isometric exercise to treat hypertension as an exemplar

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to the delivery of clinical trials in the UK, especially for exercise intervention studies based in the community. The researchers of this study identified and addressed the challenges of public involvement, recruitment, consent, follow-up, intervention, and healthcare professional delivery during the pandemic. They made many protocol adaptations, including moving the study to remote means wherever possible, which had positive and negative outcomes. The researchers critically reflect on their approach to redesigning and amending the project to maintain its viability. They suggest that their documentation and evaluation could help others plan and deliver similar studies more efficiently and effectively.