Stretching Versus Walking From Reducing Blood Pressure

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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). Previous studies have shown that stretching is also very effective for reducing blood pressure. This is an exciting possibility because if stretching is more effective, it would change the way exercise is prescribed to people with elevated blood pressure. This study will now assess 20 individuals in a supervised stretching or walking program five days per week for 8 weeks to determine for certain 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.

Detailed Description
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The study hypothesis is that stretching (flexibility training) will be superior to brisk walking for reducing blood pressure. This is a parallel-group randomised trial. Twenty participants (aged 18 and older) with borderline or stage-1 hypertension (systolic blood pressure between 130 and 159 mmHg OR diastolic blood pressure between 85 and 99 mmHg) will be randomised to walking or stretching groups. Each group will do 30 minutes of exercise, five days per week. Exercise sessions will be supervised three days per week with participants doing exercise sessions on their own two days per week. Exercise sessions involve either brisk walking or stretching. The stretching exercises will involve stretching all major muscle groups. The main outcome is 24-hour blood pressure which will be assessed at baseline, after four weeks, and after eight weeks. Other outcomes will be assessed at baseline and eight weeks and include: Body weight, height, waist circumference, resting heart rate, physical activity levels (questionnaire), diet (questionnaire), maximal distance walked in six minutes. All participants will be counselled on how to follow the DASH eating plan, which involves reducing dietary salt intake. Statistical analyses: All outcomes will be assessed with a group x time ANOVA with alpha level of 0.05. LSD post-hoc tests will be done when necessary to identify differences between pairs of means.

Official Title
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Comparison of Stretching and Walking as Exercise Modalities for Reducing Blood Pressure

Conditions
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Hypertension

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Stretching exercise
* Other: Walking exercise


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Systolic blood pressure between 130 and 159 mmHg OR diastolic blood pressure between 85 and 99 mmHg Exclusion Criteria: Individuals will be excluded if they have taken blood pressure medications within the past six months unless they are on a stable dose of medication and have not reach target blood pressure levels (i.e. systolic blood pressure below 130 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure below 85 mmHg)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Parallel groups: Two groups: Walking exercise and stretching exercise
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Stretching<br>Stretching | Other: Stretching exercise<br>* Stretching (30 minutes, 5 days per week, 8 weeks)<br>|
| Experimental: Walking<br>Walking | Other: Walking exercise<br>* Walking (30 minutes, 5 days per week, 8 weeks)<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Night time blood pressure | Blood pressure assessed during the night with an automated device | Change from Baseline Night Time Blood Pressure at 8 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Day time blood pressure | Blood pressure assessed during the day with an automated device | Change from Baseline Day Time Blood Pressure at 8 weeks | 
| Sitting blood pressure | Blood pressure assessed while sitting | Change from Baseline Sitting Blood Pressure at 8 weeks | 
| Lying blood pressure | Blood pressure assessed while lying down | Change from Baseline Lying Blood Pressure at 8 weeks | 
| Walking test | Maximal distance walked in six minutes | Change from Baseline Walking Distance at 8 weeks | 
| Waist circumference | Waist circumference measured with a measuring tape | Change from Baseline Waist Circumference at 8 weeks | 
| Body mass | Body mass measured with a scale | Change from Baseline Body Mass at 8 weeks | 
| Resting heart rate | Heart rate at rest measured with a heart rate monitor | Change from Baseline Resting Heart Rate at 8 weeks |