The Effect of Stretching Exercises on Vascular Function, Blood Flow, and Walking Function in Middle and Older Adults
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Enrollment
- 48
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- walking speed-fast(1)
Study Overview
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.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Health Services Research
- Masking
- Single (Investigator)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 20 Years to 85 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •age between 20-85 years old
- •Follow instructions
- •Walk with/without assistive technology
Exclusion Criteria
- •Unstable acute or chronic health conditions
- •Peripheral vascular diseases
- •Non-musculoskeletal problems that would limit stretching exercises
- •Participate in other exercise programs
Arms & Interventions
Stretching exercises
Interventions 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.
Intervention: stretching exercises (Other)
Control group
Maintain their daily activity level in the 8 weeks. We use the study desigh-''waiting list control'' in this group.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
walking speed-fast(1)
Time Frame: pre-intervention(1st week)
Timed 10-Meter Walk Test (fast)
Ultrasound parameters-pulsatility index(2)
Time Frame: during intervention(4th week)
(pulsatility index, PI)
walking speed-preferred(1)
Time Frame: pre-intervention(1st week)
Timed 10-Meter Walk Test (preferred)
Ultrasound parameters-peak-systolic velocity(1)
Time Frame: pre-intervention(1st week)
（peak-systolic velocity, PSV)
Ultrasound parameters-pulsatility index(1)
Time Frame: pre-intervention(1st week)
(pulsatility index, PI)
vascular functions-Stiffness index(2)
Time Frame: during intervention(4th week)
(Stiffness index, SI，unit：m/s)
vascular functions-Reflective index(1)
Time Frame: pre-intervention(1st week)
(Reflective index, RI，unit：％)
Ultrasound parameters-peak-systolic velocity(2)
Time Frame: during intervention(4th week)
（peak-systolic velocity, PSV）
Ultrasound parameters-pulsatility index(3)
Time Frame: post-intervention(8th week)
(pulsatility index, PI)
Ultrasound parameters-diameter(2)
Time Frame: during intervention(4th week)
（diameter, D）
Ultrasound parameters-area(2)
Time Frame: during intervention(4th week)
（area, A）
walking speed-preferred(2)
Time Frame: during intervention(4th week)
Timed 10-Meter Walk Test (preferred)
walking speed-preferred(3)
Time Frame: post-intervention(8th week)
Timed 10-Meter Walk Test (preferred)
walking speed-fast(3)
Time Frame: post-intervention(8th week)
Timed 10-Meter Walk Test (fast)
Ultrasound parameters-end-diastolic velocity(3)
Time Frame: post-intervention(8th week)
（end-diastolic velocity, EDV）
Ultrasound parameters-mean velocity(3)
Time Frame: post-intervention(8th week)
（mean velocity, mV）
Ultrasound parameters-mean volume flow(1)
Time Frame: pre-intervention(1st week)
(mean volume flow, vFl)
Ultrasound parameters-mean volume flow(2)
Time Frame: during intervention(4th week)
(mean volume flow, vFl)
Ultrasound parameters-mean volume flow(3)
Time Frame: post-intervention(8th week)
(mean volume flow, vFl)
Ultrasound parameters-resistance index(1)
Time Frame: pre-intervention(1st week)
(resistance index, RI)
vascular functions-Reflective index(3)
Time Frame: post-intervention(8th week)
(Reflective index, RI，unit：％)
vascular functions-Vascular age
Time Frame: pre-intervention(1st week)
(Vascular age, VA，unit：year-old)
Ultrasound parameters-mean velocity(1)
Time Frame: pre-intervention(1st week)
（mean velocity, mV）
Ultrasound parameters-mean velocity(2)
Time Frame: during intervention(4th week)
（mean velocity, mV）
Ultrasound parameters-resistance index(2)
Time Frame: during intervention(4th week)
(resistance index, RI)
vascular functions-Stiffness index(1)
Time Frame: pre-intervention(1st week)
(Stiffness index, SI，unit：m/s)
vascular functions-Stiffness index(3)
Time Frame: post-intervention(8th week)
(Stiffness index, SI，unit：m/s)
vascular functions-Reflective index(2)
Time Frame: during intervention(4th week)
(Reflective index, RI，unit：％)
Ultrasound parameters-end-diastolic velocity(1)
Time Frame: pre-intervention(1st week)
（end-diastolic velocity, EDV）
Ultrasound parameters-resistance index(3)
Time Frame: post-intervention(8th week)
(resistance index, RI)
Ultrasound parameters-area(1)
Time Frame: pre-intervention(1st week)
（area, A）
Ultrasound parameters-peak-systolic velocity(3)
Time Frame: post-intervention(8th week)
（peak-systolic velocity, PSV）
Ultrasound parameters-end-diastolic velocity(2)
Time Frame: during intervention(4th week)
（end-diastolic velocity, EDV）
Ultrasound parameters-diameter(1)
Time Frame: pre-intervention(1st week)
（diameter, D）
Ultrasound parameters-diameter(3)
Time Frame: post-intervention(8th week)
（diameter, D）
Ultrasound parameters-area(3)
Time Frame: post-intervention(8th week)
（area, A）
walking speed-fast(2)
Time Frame: during intervention(4th week)
Timed 10-Meter Walk Test (fast)
Secondary Outcomes
- frailty(pre-intervention(1st week))
- vital sign-blood pressure(1)(pre-intervention(1st week))
- vital sign-heart rate(3)(post-intervention(8th week))
- flexibility-chair sit and reach test (2)(during intervention(4th week))
- adherence of exercise(post-intervention(8th week))
- body composition-weight(pre-intervention(1st week))
- body composition-waist circumference(pre-intervention(1st week))
- basic data(pre-intervention(1st week))
- body composition-height(pre-intervention(1st week))
- vital sign-blood pressure(2)(during intervention(4th week))
- flexibility-chair sit and reach test (1)(pre-intervention(1st week))
- grip strength(pre-intervention(1st week))
- cognitive function(pre-intervention(1st week))
- vital sign-blood pressure(3)(post-intervention(8th week))
- vital sign-heart rate(1)(pre-intervention(1st week))
- vital sign-heart rate(2)(during intervention(4th week))
- flexibility-chair sit and reach test (3)(post-intervention(8th week))
- ACSM-PAR-Q+(pre-intervention(1st week))
- IPAQ(pre-intervention(1st week))
- fitness(pre-intervention(1st week))
Investigators
Mei-Wun Tsai
Associate Professor
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University