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The Effect of Stretching Exercises on Vascular Function, Blood Flow, and Walking Function in Middle and Older Adults

Not Applicable
Conditions
Stretch
Interventions
Other: stretching exercises
Registration Number
NCT04871906
Lead Sponsor
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
Brief Summary

This study examines the relationship between circulation and walking speed after performing 8-week stretching exercises.

Detailed Description

This study examines the relationship between circulations and walking speeds. Most studies in the field of stretching exercises have only focused on improvements of endothelial functions in younger population; however, I aim to emphasize its effects on different populations, such as people with frailty, low physical activity level, weakness and postoperative status. Previous research has established that stretching exercises can improve walking function by modulations of musculoskeletal or neuromuscular system. The importance and originality of this study are that it explores the relationship between circulation and walking speed. Due to the inability to extrapolate outcomes; short-term effect of improved blood vessel function; the unclear mechanism of stretching exercises; and considering the different physical fitness groups, I design a home-based, low-dose, and anatomic chain-based stretching exercises to verify the possible mechanism and effects.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
48
Inclusion Criteria
  1. age between 20-85 years old
  2. Follow instructions
  3. Walk with/without assistive technology
Exclusion Criteria
  1. Unstable acute or chronic health conditions
  2. Peripheral vascular diseases
  3. Non-musculoskeletal problems that would limit stretching exercises
  4. Participate in other exercise programs

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Stretching exercisesstretching exercisesInterventions are home-based stretching exercises. The experimental group will receive 6 stretching exercises which stretch 20-30 seconds, relax for 10 seconds, and repeat 5 times for each side. It will take 25-30 minutes every day for continuous 8 weeks.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
vascular functions-Vascular agepre-intervention(1st week)

(Vascular age, VA,unit:year-old)

Ultrasound parameters-pulsatility index(2)during intervention(4th week)

(pulsatility index, PI)

walking speed-preferred(1)pre-intervention(1st week)

Timed 10-Meter Walk Test (preferred)

Ultrasound parameters-peak-systolic velocity(1)pre-intervention(1st week)

(peak-systolic velocity, PSV)

Ultrasound parameters-pulsatility index(1)pre-intervention(1st week)

(pulsatility index, PI)

vascular functions-Stiffness index(2)during intervention(4th week)

(Stiffness index, SI,unit:m/s)

vascular functions-Reflective index(1)pre-intervention(1st week)

(Reflective index, RI,unit:%)

Ultrasound parameters-peak-systolic velocity(2)during intervention(4th week)

(peak-systolic velocity, PSV)

Ultrasound parameters-pulsatility index(3)post-intervention(8th week)

(pulsatility index, PI)

Ultrasound parameters-diameter(2)during intervention(4th week)

(diameter, D)

Ultrasound parameters-area(2)during intervention(4th week)

(area, A)

walking speed-preferred(2)during intervention(4th week)

Timed 10-Meter Walk Test (preferred)

walking speed-preferred(3)post-intervention(8th week)

Timed 10-Meter Walk Test (preferred)

walking speed-fast(3)post-intervention(8th week)

Timed 10-Meter Walk Test (fast)

Ultrasound parameters-end-diastolic velocity(3)post-intervention(8th week)

(end-diastolic velocity, EDV)

Ultrasound parameters-mean velocity(3)post-intervention(8th week)

(mean velocity, mV)

Ultrasound parameters-mean volume flow(1)pre-intervention(1st week)

(mean volume flow, vFl)

Ultrasound parameters-mean volume flow(2)during intervention(4th week)

(mean volume flow, vFl)

Ultrasound parameters-mean volume flow(3)post-intervention(8th week)

(mean volume flow, vFl)

Ultrasound parameters-resistance index(1)pre-intervention(1st week)

(resistance index, RI)

vascular functions-Reflective index(3)post-intervention(8th week)

(Reflective index, RI,unit:%)

Ultrasound parameters-mean velocity(1)pre-intervention(1st week)

(mean velocity, mV)

Ultrasound parameters-mean velocity(2)during intervention(4th week)

(mean velocity, mV)

Ultrasound parameters-resistance index(2)during intervention(4th week)

(resistance index, RI)

vascular functions-Stiffness index(1)pre-intervention(1st week)

(Stiffness index, SI,unit:m/s)

vascular functions-Stiffness index(3)post-intervention(8th week)

(Stiffness index, SI,unit:m/s)

vascular functions-Reflective index(2)during intervention(4th week)

(Reflective index, RI,unit:%)

Ultrasound parameters-end-diastolic velocity(1)pre-intervention(1st week)

(end-diastolic velocity, EDV)

Ultrasound parameters-resistance index(3)post-intervention(8th week)

(resistance index, RI)

Ultrasound parameters-area(1)pre-intervention(1st week)

(area, A)

Ultrasound parameters-peak-systolic velocity(3)post-intervention(8th week)

(peak-systolic velocity, PSV)

Ultrasound parameters-end-diastolic velocity(2)during intervention(4th week)

(end-diastolic velocity, EDV)

Ultrasound parameters-diameter(1)pre-intervention(1st week)

(diameter, D)

Ultrasound parameters-diameter(3)post-intervention(8th week)

(diameter, D)

Ultrasound parameters-area(3)post-intervention(8th week)

(area, A)

walking speed-fast(1)pre-intervention(1st week)

Timed 10-Meter Walk Test (fast)

walking speed-fast(2)during intervention(4th week)

Timed 10-Meter Walk Test (fast)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
frailtypre-intervention(1st week)

SOF (Study of Osteoporotic Fractures). Minimum value is 0 and maximum value is 3, and higher scores mean a worse outcome

vital sign-blood pressure(1)pre-intervention(1st week)

blood pressure(mmHg)

vital sign-heart rate(3)post-intervention(8th week)

heart rate(bpm)

flexibility-chair sit and reach test (2)during intervention(4th week)

chair sit and reach test (cm)

adherence of exercisepost-intervention(8th week)

usage records from the Line app

body composition-weightpre-intervention(1st week)

weight(kg)

body composition-waist circumferencepre-intervention(1st week)

waist circumference(cm)

basic datapre-intervention(1st week)

gender, age, education, living status, smoking, and exercise habits

body composition-heightpre-intervention(1st week)

height(cm)

vital sign-blood pressure(2)during intervention(4th week)

blood pressure(mmHg)

flexibility-chair sit and reach test (1)pre-intervention(1st week)

chair sit and reach test (cm)

grip strengthpre-intervention(1st week)

hand dynamometer

cognitive functionpre-intervention(1st week)

Montreal Cognitive Assessment.Minimum value is 0 and maximum value is 30, and higher scores mean a better outcome

vital sign-blood pressure(3)post-intervention(8th week)

blood pressure(mmHg)

vital sign-heart rate(1)pre-intervention(1st week)

heart rate(bpm)

vital sign-heart rate(2)during intervention(4th week)

heart rate(bpm)

flexibility-chair sit and reach test (3)post-intervention(8th week)

chair sit and reach test (cm)

ACSM-PAR-Q+pre-intervention(1st week)

The Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone AND follow-up questions about their medical conditions (PAR-Q+) is used to identify whether subjects are at risk in engaging in exercises. Thus, researchers can prescribe individual exercise prescriptions.

IPAQpre-intervention(1st week)

International Physical Activity Questionnaire to investigate their physical activity levels. Higher the amount of physical activity (min-METs/week) means a more active life-style(physical activity level).

fitnesspre-intervention(1st week)

(Duke activity status index, DASI) Minimum value is 0 and maximum value is 58.2, and higher scores mean a better physical activity level.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

National Yang Ming University

🇨🇳

Taipei, Taiwan

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