Stretching vs Walking for Lowering Blood Pressure
ConditionHypertension
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorUniversity of Saskatchewan
About this trial
High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Traditionally, one of the ways to treat or prevent high blood pressure is to prescribe aerobic exercise training (i.e. brisk walking). Stretching may also be effective because it may cause changes in blood vessel stiffness and therefore reduce resistance to blood flow. The study will assess a group of individuals (i.e. 96) participating in a supervised stretching or walking program five days per week for six months to determine whether stretching is superior for reducing blood pressure. This research will contribute to recommendations about the most effective exercise programs for reducing blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Systolic blood pressure between 130 and 159 mmHg OR diastolic blood pressure between 85 and 99 mmHg
Able to walk unaided for 30 minutes
Can safely perform exercises as determined by the Get Active Questionnaire
Disqualifiers
Not on blood pressure medication unless it has been a stable dose for 6 months and target blood pressure has not been achieved (i.e. below 140/90 mmHg)
Smoking
Already performing 150 minutes or more moderate to vigorous physical activity per week
Already involved in a flexibility-training program (e.g. Yoga or Pilates)
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Stretching exercise
Other interventionStretching (30-45 minutes, 5 days per week, 6 months)
Walking exercise
Other interventionWalking (30-45 minutes, 5 days per week, 6 months)
Treatment groups
96 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: StretchingExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: WalkingExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Night time systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Blood pressure assessed during the night with an automated device
Time frame
Change from baseline night time blood pressure at 6 monthsSecondary outcomes
1
Day time systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Blood pressure assessed during the day with an automated device
Time frame
Change from baseline day time blood pressure at 6 months2
Sitting systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Blood pressure assessed while sitting
Time frame
Change from baseline sitting blood pressure at 6 months3
Lying systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Blood pressure assessed while lying supine
Time frame
Change from baseline lying blood pressure at 6 months4
Arterial stiffness
Arterial stiffness assessed with aplanation tonometry
Time frame
Change from baseline arterial stiffness at 6 monthsSponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
University of Saskatchewan
Lead sponsor
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov