The Effects of Stretching Training on Arterial Function and Autonomic Control

December 4, 2012 updated by: Arturo Figueroa, Florida State University

The Effects of 8 Weeks of Stretching Training on Arterial Stiffness, Wave Reflection, Endothelial Function and Cardiac Autonomic Control.

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.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of 8 weeks of stretching training on blood pressure,arterial stiffness, wave reflection, endothelial function and cardiovascular autonomic control. The specific aim of the study is:

- To evaluate the effects of 8 weeks of ST on arterial function and aortic hemodynamics by assessing arterial stiffness (aortic, systemic, and leg), aortic blood pressure and wave reflection, and autonomic function (heart rate variability, vascular sympathetic activity [low-frequency power of systolic BP variability], and baroreflex sensitivity)

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

30

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Florida
      • Tallahassee, Florida, United States, 32306
        • Florida State University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

50 years to 65 years (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 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)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • 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

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
  • Allocation: RANDOMIZED
  • Interventional Model: PARALLEL
  • Masking: NONE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Stretching Training
Whole body stretching exercises 3 times per wk for 8 weeks
Other: Stretching Training
The stretching training intervention consists of 38 whole-body stretching exercises, 3 times per week for 8 wk. Each stretch will be held in place for 30 seconds, with a 15 seconds of rest in between stretches.
NO_INTERVENTION: Control
This arm involves not making any change to the subject's lifestyle at the moment of the start of the intervention and for 8 wk.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Blood pressure
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Non-invasive measures of brachial and aortic blood pressure
8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Arterial Stiffness
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Using pulse wave velocity of the aorta, systemic, and legs
8 weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Autonomic Function
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Heart rate variability, vascular sympathetic activity [low-frequency power of systolic BP variability], and spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity will be assessed from electrocardiogram and beat-by-beat digital blood pressure
8 weeks
Pressure Wave Reflection
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Using the augmentation index from radial tonometry
8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Florida State University

Investigators

  • Study Director: Arturo Figueroa, M.D., Ph.D, Florida State University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

May 1, 2011

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

December 1, 2011

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

December 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 3, 2012

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 4, 2012

First Posted (ESTIMATE)

December 5, 2012

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE)

December 5, 2012

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 4, 2012

Last Verified

December 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • HSC2010.5615

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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