Neck Static Stretching Acutely Reduces Blood Pressure Through Reduction of Tissue Stiffness

NCT07197047 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: ST-BP 306/2025
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 25
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Stretching is usually done to improve flexibility and joint movement. Recent research suggests that stretching may also affect the body's heart and blood vessels. For example, stretching may help lower blood pressure, reduce stress in the nervous system, and improve how flexible or stiff blood vessels are. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. It can change based on how much blood the heart pumps and how tight or relaxed the small blood vessels are. Stretching may help relax these vessels and support the parasympathetic nervous system. This system helps the body stay calm and controls functions like heart rate and blood pressure. From blood pressure values, mean arterial pressure (MAP) can be derived using a standard formula. MAP represents the average arterial pressure across the entire cardiac cycle, encompassing both systole and diastole, and is determined by cardiac output in relation to peripheral vascular resistance, the resistance within the circulatory system that sustains blood pressure, regulates blood flow, and reflects an essential component of cardiac function. The goal of this study was to test whether a short session of static stretching of the neck can lower blood pressure and MAP in healthy subjects. The investigators also measured tissue stiffness (how firm the tissue is) and heart rate variability (a marker of how the nervous system controls the heart). These measures may help explain why blood pressure and MAP change after stretching. This study tested the hypothesis that static neck stretching may reduce blood pressure and MAP either by decreasing tissue stiffness, thereby facilitating blood flow through reduced peripheral resistance, or by shifting autonomic balance toward enhanced parasympathetic activity. Should the findings confirm the initial hypothesis of blood pressure and MAP reductions, stretching could represent a simple, practical, and effective strategy to support blood pressure and hémodynamic monitoring.

Conditions

Healthy; Healthy Participants; Healthy Subjects; Healthy Volunteers; Stretching; Stretch; Static Stretching

Keywords

stretching; static stretching; neck stretching; neck static stretching; blood pressure; systolic blood pressure; diastolic blood pressure; tissue stiffness; heart rate variability; blood

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Blood pressure

  Investigators measured blood pressure while participants were sitting. A reliable blood pressure machine was used. Participants sat and rested for 5-10 minutes to let their blood pressure settle. The cuff was placed on the bare upper arm, about 2 centimeters above the inside of the elbow, with the arm supported at heart level. During the measurement, participants were asked to sit still, stay relaxed, and not talk. Data will be shown as means with standard deviations. To compare baseline values between SS and CC, investigators will first use paired t-tests. Invesigators will then check the data distribution and apply a repeated measures analysis of variance (two conditions × two time points) to look at the effects of time and condition. In the presence of a significant time × condition interaction, post hoc analyses with Scheffé correction will be conducted to locate the differences. Effect sizes will be calculated and reported as partial eta squared (η²p).

  Blood pressure was measured two times in each session (SS and CC): once at the beginning (when the participant arrived, T0) and once right after the stretching (SS) or control condition (CC) (T1).

• Mean Arterial Pressure

  MAP was extrapolated from blood pressure using the following formula: MAP = DP + 1/3(SP - DP). Data will be shown as means with standard deviations. To compare baseline values between SS and CC, investigators will first use paired t-tests. Invesigators will then check the data distribution and apply a repeated measures analysis of variance (two conditions × two time points) to look at the effects of time and condition. In the presence of a significant time × condition interaction, post hoc analyses with Scheffé correction will be conducted to locate the differences. Effect sizes will be calculated and reported as partial eta squared (η²p).

  MAP was obtained two times for each session (SS and CC): once at the beginning (baseline, T0) and once right after the stretching (SS) or the control condition (CC) (T1).

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Tissue stiffness

  Tissue stiffness was measured two times in each session (SS and CC): once at the beginning (when the participant arrived, T0) and once right after the stretching (SS) or control condition (CC) (T1).

• Heart rate variability and heart rate

  Heart rate variabilty and heart rate were measured two times in each session (SS and CC): once at the beginning (when the participant arrived, T0) and once right after the stretching (SS) or control condition (CC) (T1).

Study Arms (2)

SS

EXPERIMENTAL

Neck static stretching

Other: Neck static stretching

CC

NO INTERVENTION

Control Condition --\> participants sat silently on a chair without performing any stretching intervention

Interventions

Neck static stretching OTHER

The static stretching intervention targeted the right posterolateral region of the neck. The stretching protocol consisted of four sets of 45 seconds each, separated by 45-second rest intervals, for a total intervention time of 3 minutes. Seated in a chair, participants performed the stretch by gently flexing their head forward and to the left in an anterolateral direction, using their contralateral (left) hand to assist the movement and ensure selective stretching of the right posterolateral region of the neck. Participants were asked to achieve a subjective discomfort intensity of at least 8 out of 10 on the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), where 0 represents "no pain" and 10 indicates "the strongest pain imaginable"

SS

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 55 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• healthy male and female participants
• ≥ 18 years old

You may not qualify if:

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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Palermo: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Palermo

Palermo, Italy

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Ewan Thomas, Associate Professor in Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 20, 2025
• First Posted: September 29, 2025
• Study Start: May 12, 2025
• Primary Completion: July 28, 2025
• Study Completion: July 28, 2025
• Last Updated: November 19, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

IT (1)