Impact of Preprocedural Stress Ball Use on Radial Artery Outcomes in Elective Coronary Angiography

Launched by SAKARYA UNIVERSITY · Jul 18, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying whether using a stress ball to exercise the hand before a planned heart artery test (called coronary angiography) can help reduce problems with the artery in the wrist during the procedure. The artery in the wrist (radial artery) can sometimes spasm (tighten suddenly) or get blocked, which can cause discomfort or complications. The study will compare two groups of adults having this test: one group will do simple hand exercises by squeezing a soft stress ball for 5 minutes, three times a day, for three days before their procedure, while the other group will not.

To join, participants need to be adults between 18 and 85 years old who are scheduled for an elective (planned) coronary angiography using the wrist artery. They must have a strong pulse in the wrist where the procedure will be done and be able to follow the hand exercise instructions. During the study, participants will be monitored to see if the stress ball exercises help reduce artery spasms and other wrist artery problems, as well as how much pain they feel during the procedure. The researchers will also check the artery’s condition a week later using an ultrasound test. This simple exercise might offer an easy and low-cost way to make the procedure safer and more comfortable for patients.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age between 18 and 85 years
• • Elective radial coronary angiography planned
• • Written informed consent provided
• • Ability to understand and comply with the stress ball exercise protocol (3×5 minutes/day for 3 days prior to procedure)
• • Palpable radial pulse on the planned access site
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Emergent or urgent coronary procedures
• • Known radial artery occlusion or non-palpable radial pulse on the intended access side
• • Prior arteriovenous fistula or vascular surgery in the ipsilateral arm
• • History of Raynaud's disease, severe peripheral artery disease, or Buerger's disease
• • Neurological or musculoskeletal disorders affecting hand grip (e.g., stroke, advanced arthritis, peripheral neuropathy)
• • Cognitive impairment or psychiatric condition preventing protocol adherence
• • Inability to use hand muscles effectively (e.g., recent hand trauma, paralysis)
• • Unwillingness or inability to perform the stress ball exercises as instructed
• • Pregnancy or breastfeeding