Abstract
Trunk flexibility may be associated with arterial stiffness in young, middle-aged, and older healthy men after adjusting for blood pressure. This study assessed the effects of 4 weeks of regular static stretching on arterial stiffness in middle-aged men. Sixteen healthy men (43 ± 3 years) were assigned to control or intervention groups (n = 8 each). The control group did not alter their physical activity levels throughout the study period. The intervention group participated in five supervised stretching sessions per week for 4 weeks. Each session comprised 30 min of mild stretching that moved the major muscle groups through the full range of motion and stretches were held three times for 20 s at the end range. Flexibility was assessed by sit-and-reach test. Arterial stiffness was assessed by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI). Four weeks of stretching increased sit-and-reach (Control, Pre: 31.4 ± 2.1, Post: 30.8 ± 2.7 vs. Intervention, Pre: 30.6 ± 5.3, Post: 43.9 ± 4.3 cm), and reduced baPWV (Control, Pre: 1204 ± 25, Post: 1205 ± 38 vs. Intervention, Pre: 1207 ± 28, Post: 1145 ± 19 cm/s) and CAVI (Control, Pre: 7.6 ± 0.3, Post: 7.5 ± 0.3 vs. Intervention, Pre: 7.7 ± 0.2, Post: 7.2 ± 0.2 units) in the intervention group. However, the change in sit-and-reach did not significantly correlate with the changes in arterial stiffness. These findings suggest that short-term regular stretching induces a significant reduction in arterial stiffness in middle-aged men.
Highlights
Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is frequently used as an index of arterial stiffness, and large elastic artery stiffness is progressively greater with advancing age even in healthy people (Avolio et al 1985)
Recent studies indicate that a value of sit-and-reach is significantly correlated with brachial-ankle PWV, aortic PWV, and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), and poor trunk flexibility is related to greater arterial stiffening (Nishiwaki et al 2014b; Yamamoto et al 2009)
We have reported that trunk flexibility is related to arterial stiffness independently of blood pressure (BP), which is a major confounding factor (Nishiwaki et al 2014b)
Summary
Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is frequently used as an index of arterial stiffness, and large elastic artery stiffness is progressively greater with advancing age even in healthy people (Avolio et al 1985). An increase in arterial stiffness is as an independent risk factor for future cardiovascular disease (Arnett et al 1994; Laurent and Boutouyrie 2007). The prevention and treatment of arterial stiffening are of paramount importance. Recent studies indicate that a value of sit-and-reach is significantly correlated with brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV), aortic PWV, and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), and poor trunk flexibility is related to greater arterial stiffening (Nishiwaki et al 2014b; Yamamoto et al 2009). We have reported that trunk flexibility is related to arterial stiffness independently of blood pressure (BP), which is a major confounding factor (Nishiwaki et al 2014b).
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