The Effects of Stretching Training on Arterial Function and Autonomic Control

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Obesity, Pre-hypertension, Hypertension

In brief

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Hypertension and abdominal obesity are associated with dysfunction of the main mechanisms of cardiovascular regulation, the autonomic nervous system and the vascular endothelium. Increased sympathetic activity and endothelial dysfunction are associated with increased arterial stiffness, which is an independent risk factor for the development of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. The recommended intervention for controlling BP in pre- and stage 1- hypertensive individuals is lifestyle modifications such as exercise, and not drug therapy.Although aerobic and resistance exercise has been shown to be beneficial for the cardiovascular system, special populations such as the elderly and obese may have physical and/or musculoskeletal limitations which may limit their participation in these exercise modalities. Stretching is a form of exercise that is widely recommended for injury prevention. Among the benefits of stretching are an increased flexibility, enhanced muscular coordination, stress relief, improved range of motion and an improved posture. Previous studies have shown stretching training to increase arterial compliance and acutely increase sympathetic nerve activity. In addition, low flexibility levels have been found to be associated with arterial stiffness. Given that stretching of skeletal muscle causes an increase in sympathetic nerve activity; repetitive stimulation of sympathetic activity induced by habitual stretching, might chronically reduce resting sympathetic activity. The reduction in sympathetic activity might result in a decrease of arterial stiffness and blood pressure. The investigators hypothesis is that 8 weeks of stretching training would reduce arterial stiffness, blood pressure and sympathetic activity in obese women. The investigators also hypothesize that the improved arterial function with stretching would be associated with increases in flexibility levels.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01741766

Run by

Florida State University

People needed

30

Starts

2011-05-01

Expected to finish

2011-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2012-12-05

Who can join

Age: 50 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• 50-65 years old
• Blood pressure between 121/81 and 159/99 mmHg
• Body mass index of 25-39.9
• Sedentary or low active (less than 2 hr per wk)

You may not qualify if…

• Younger than 50 or older than 65 years of age
• Body mass index lower than 25, or 40 or higher
• Physically active or competitively active
• Smoker
• Systolic blood pressure higher than 160 mmHg
• Use of hormone replacement therapy of less than 1 yr
• Use of calcium channel blocker or beta blockers
• Type 1 diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes
• Known cardiovascular disease

Where it is running

• Florida State University — Tallahassee, Florida, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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