Passive Stretching Can Help Prevent Heart Attacks, Diabetes: Study

Better circulation can help prevent blockages of fatty deposits and heart attacks. New research pointed out three months of passive stretching can help improve blood circulation, dilate the arteries and decrease stiffness.

While active stretching is something people can do on their own, passive stretching involves a person remaining in a position and an external force such as a partner or an accessory stretching out the muscles.

The experts at the University of Milan observed passive stretching resulted in changes in blood vessels that could have implications for several ailments including heart diseases and diabetes.

“This new application of stretching is especially relevant in the current pandemic period of increased confinement to our homes, where the possibility of performing beneficial training to improve and prevent heart disease, stroke, and other conditions is limited," MedicalXpress quoted the study’s author Emiliano Ce.

As part of the study, thirty nine healthy individuals of both genders were divided into two groups. While the control group didn’t undergo any stretching, those in the experimental group underwent passive leg stretches which were done five times per week for a period of 12 weeks. The researchers evaluated the study participants on the blood flow locally and particularly in the upper arm.

Here’s what they found:

• Arteries in both the upper arm as well as the lower leg had higher blood flow as well as dilation stimulated
• There was also a decrease in stiffness
• These two changes might have implications for heart attack, diabetes as well as stroke since these diseases are all caused by an impaired vascular system
• Blood pressure, central and peripheral arterial stiffness was reduced
• Muscle perfusion improved after passive stretching training

When replicated in individuals suffering from vascular diseases, the researchers believe it could help determine if this method could serve as a new drug-free solution for improving vascular health and reducing disease risk.

“The present study clearly demonstrates that 12 ‐ week PS training is effective in improving vascular function and decreasing stiffness of the directly involved arteries (femoral and popliteal arteries of the stretched limbs) and the arteries not directly involved (contralateral femoral and popliteal arteries and brachial artery) in PS training,” said the researchers in their paper published in the Journal of Physiology.