Static Stretching Reshapes Post-RT Recovery

Hemodynamic Load and Local Recovery Patterns After Resistance Training With and Without Static Stretching

This experimental study investigates the acute cardiovascular and local recovery to a single session of resistance training, with and without additional static stretching, compared with a resting control condition. Participants are allocated to one of three groups (control, resistance training, resistance training plus static stretching) and assessed at baseline, immediately after the session, and 30 minutes post-exercise. Primary outcomes include rate-pressure product and local muscle oxygen saturation, while secondary outcomes include heart rate, blood pressure, brachial artery diameter, tissue hardness, and pressure pain threshold. These measures are used to characterize the short-term effects of the different experimental conditions on systemic hemodynamic load, vascular response, local muscle oxygenation, mechanical tissue status, and pressure pain sensitivity during early recovery.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy; Healthy Subjects (HS); Stretching; Cardiovascular Adaption; Recovery Outcomes
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Resistance Training; Other: Resistance training + Static Stretching

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 28
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Italy
  • Italy
    • Palermo, Italy, Italy, 90144
      • University of Palermo

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• healthy male participants ≥ 18 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

• orthopedic disorders
• neurological disorders
• metabolic disorders
• cardovascular disorders

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: RT; Resistance Training	Other: Resistance Training; Participants assigned to this group will complete a single supervised upper body resistance training session. The protocol includes bench presses and bicep curls performed at 100% of the individual's 8-rep max, for 4 sets of 8 reps, with standardized rest intervals between sets of 2 minutes. The total duration of the session is approximately 20-25 minutes and does not include any additional static stretching beyond the standardized warm-up.
Experimental: RT+SS; Resistance Training + Static Stretching	Other: Resistance training + Static Stretching; Participants assigned to this group will complete a single supervised upper body resistance training session. The protocol includes bench presses and bicep curls performed at 100% of the individual's 8-rep max, for 4 sets of 8 reps, with standardized rest intervals between sets of 2 minutes. The total duration of the session is approximately 20-25 minutes .Immediately after the resistance exercises, they will complete a structured static stretching protocol targeting the trained muscle groups (pectoralis and elbow flexor), with each stretch held for about 30 seconds and repeated for several sets. The additional stretching lasts 12 minutes, for a total session duration of about 30-35 minutes.
No Intervention: Control Condition(CC); participants sat silently on a chair without performing any train

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Rate-Pressure Product (RPP)	Rate-pressure product (RPP) will be used as an index of myocardial workload and hemodynamic load during early post-exercise recovery. RPP will be calculated as heart rate multiplied by systolic blood pressure (Omron MX3 Plus). Heart rate and systolic blood pressure will be measured under standardized resting conditions at each time point.	3 times (Baseline, immediately after intervantion and 30 minutes after intervention) for each condition (CC, RT, RT+ST)
Local Muscle Oxygen Saturation (SmO₂)	Local muscle oxygen saturation (SmO₂) will be assessed using near-infrared spectroscopy (Moxy Monitor). The sensor will be positioned over the target muscle region and secured to minimize movement artifacts. SmO₂ will be recorded as a local index of the balance between oxygen delivery and oxygen utilization within the sampled muscle region.	Time Frame: 3 times (Baseline, immediately after intervantion and 30 minutes after intervention) for each condition (CC, RT, RT+ST)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Brachial Artery diameter	Brachial artery diameter will be assessed using high-resolution B-mode ultrasound (Esaote MyLab X1 GO, linear-array transducer). The brachial artery will be imaged under standardized conditions, and arterial diameter will be measured at each time point to assess acute changes in conduit artery size during early post-exercise recovery.	Time Frame: 3 times (Baseline, immediately after intervention, and 30 minutes after intervention) for each condition (CC, RT, RT+SS)
Tissue Hardness (TH)	Tissue hardness (TH) will be assessed using a tissue hardness meter/force gauge (Neutone) at selected muscle sites involved in the exercise protocol, including the pectoral and biceps regions. Measurements will be performed under standardized participant positioning and probe placement conditions. TH will be used as a local mechanical marker of the post-exercise tissue response.	Time Frame: 3 times (Baseline, immediately after intervention, and 30 minutes after intervention) for each condition (CC, RT, RT+SS)
Pain pressure Threshold(PPT)	Pressure pain threshold (PPT) will be assessed using a pressure algometer(WAGNER, FPX) at selected muscle sites involved in the exercise protocol. The algometer will be applied perpendicular to the skin surface with gradually increasing pressure until the participant reports the first sensation of pain. PPT will be used as a sensory marker of local pressure pain sensitivity during early recovery.	Time Frame: 3 times (Baseline, immediately after intervention, and 30 minutes after intervention) for each condition (CC, RT, RT+SS)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Palermo

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 12, 2026
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 10, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): March 10, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 10, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 10, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 16, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 16, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 10, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: recovery; oxygenation; resistance training; stretching; static stretching
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Patient Care; Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Physical Conditioning, Human; Exercise; Resistance Training; Muscle Stretching Exercises
• Other Study ID Numbers: 353/2025 SS

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No