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
Qualifiers
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
Treatments tested in this trial
- Stretching exercise
- Walking exercise
Treatment groups
96 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsSponsors and collaborators
University of Saskatchewan
Lead sponsor
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov