HypertensionNCT05252208
Stretching vs Walking for Lowering Blood Pressure
A study testing Stretching exercise and Walking exercise in people with Hypertension, run by University of Saskatchewan at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
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). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Hypertension
- What is being tested?
- Stretching exercise and Walking exercise
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 96 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 28 Mar 2022to 30 Aug 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Systolic blood pressure between 130 and 159 mmHg OR diastolic blood pressure between 85 and 99 mmHg
- Able to walk unaided for 30 minutes
- Can safely perform exercises as determined by the Get Active Questionnaire
Who cannot join
- Not on blood pressure medication unless it has been a stable dose for 6 months and target blood pressure has not been achieved (i.e. below 140/90 mmHg)
- Smoking
- Already performing 150 minutes or more moderate to vigorous physical activity per week
- Already involved in a flexibility-training program (e.g. Yoga or Pilates)
- Pregnant or lactating or planning to become pregnant during the study
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Canada1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N5B2
John Ko, M.Sc., 306-966-1186, jongbum.ko@usask.ca
About this study
Official title: Is Stretching Superior to Aerobic Training for Reducing Blood Pressure?
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). Stretching may also be effective because it may cause changes in blood vessel stiffness and therefore reduce resistance to blood flow. The study will assess a group of individuals (i.e. 96) participating in a supervised stretching or walking program five days per week for six months to determine 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.
Read the detailed description
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a prevalent and leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke afflicting seven million people in Canada and costing our health system approximately $20 billion annually. The prevailing exercise recommendation for people with hypertension is to perform aerobic training (i.e. brisk walking) as a non-pharmacological way to moderately reduce blood pressure. Evidence from several recent studies indicates flexibility training may accrue more positive changes in blood pressure than aerobic training. Additional recent studies show stretching can reduce arterial stiffness and sympathetic nervous system activation, suggesting physiological mechanisms by which blood pressure might be reduced through exercises designed mostly to improve flexibility. The purpose of this study is to determine if a 6-month flexibility program is superior to aerobic training for reducing 24-hour blood pressure measurements, improving measures of vascular function (i.e. arterial stiffness), and improving the ratio of parasympathetic to sympathetic nervous system activation. This study involves a randomized controlled trial of 96 men and women presenting with either high-normal blood pressure (systolic 130 to 139 mmHg or diastolic 85 to 89 mmHg) or stage 1 hypertension (systolic 140 to 159 mmHg or diastolic 90 to 99 mmHg) stratified by blood pressure (i.e. either high normal or stage 1 hypertension), sex, and age (≥55y or <55y) and randomized to one of two groups for six months duration: 1) a flexibility program (30 minutes of stretching per day); or 2) an aerobic training program (30 minutes of brisk walking per day). Assessments pre- and post-intervention and three months later include: 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and heart rate variability. .
- Conditions
- Hypertension
- Being tested
- Stretching exercise, Walking exercise
- Medical subject headings
- Hypertension
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Stretching exerciseOther
Stretching (30-45 minutes, 5 days per week, 6 months)
Walking exerciseOther
Walking (30-45 minutes, 5 days per week, 6 months)
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Stretching | Experimental | Stretching Receives: Other: Stretching exercise |
| Walking | Experimental | Walking Receives: Other: Walking exercise |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Night time systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Blood pressure assessed during the night with an automated device
Measured: Change from baseline night time blood pressure at 6 months
Secondary outcomes (8)
Day time systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Blood pressure assessed during the day with an automated device
Measured: Change from baseline day time blood pressure at 6 months
Sitting systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Blood pressure assessed while sitting
Measured: Change from baseline sitting blood pressure at 6 months
Lying systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Blood pressure assessed while lying supine
Measured: Change from baseline lying blood pressure at 6 months
Arterial stiffness
Arterial stiffness assessed with aplanation tonometry
Measured: Change from baseline arterial stiffness at 6 months
Heart rate variability
Heart rate variability assessed with electrocardiography
Measured: Change from baseline heart rate variability at 6 months
Hamstrings flexibility
Hamstrings flexibility assessed with a sit-and-reach test
Measured: Change from baseline hamstrings flexibiliity at 6 months
Shoulder flexibility
Shoulder flexibility assessed with a goniometer
Measured: Change from baseline shoulder flexibility at 6 months
Peak oxygen consumption
Peak oxygen consumption assessed with a metabolic cart during a progressive-intensity treadmill test
Measured: Change from baseline peak oxygen consumption at 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Feb 2022
- Study start28 Mar 2022
- Primary completion28 Feb 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Aug 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for HypertensionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Parallel groups: Two groups: Walking exercise and stretching exercise
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 96 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Saskatchewan
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Phil Chilibeck, University of Saskatchewan
- Investigators
- Philip Chilibeck, Ph.D., Principal investigator, University of Saskatchewan
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05252208
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2874
- Status last verified
- Apr 2025
- First submitted
- 12 Feb 2022
- Last updated
- 23 Apr 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Apr 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Is Stretching Superior to Aerobic Training for Reducing Blood Pressure?
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05252208
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2874
- Conditions
- Hypertension
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 96 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of SaskatchewanUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
- Study start
- 28 Mar 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 28 Feb 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 23 Feb 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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). Stretching may also be effective because it may cause changes in blood vessel stiffness and therefore reduce resistance to blood flow. The study will assess a group of individuals (i.e. 96) participating in a supervised stretching or walking program five days per week for six months to determine 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
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a prevalent and leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke afflicting seven million people in Canada and costing our health system approximately $20 billion annually. The prevailing exercise recommendation for people with hypertension is to perform aerobic training (i.e. brisk walking) as a non-pharmacological way to moderately reduce blood pressure. Evidence from several recent studies indicates flexibility training may accrue more positive changes in blood pressure than aerobic training. Additional recent studies show stretching can reduce arterial stiffness and sympathetic nervous system activation, suggesting physiological mechanisms by which blood pressure might be reduced through exercises designed mostly to improve flexibility. The purpose of this study is to determine if a 6-month flexibility program is superior to aerobic training for reducing 24-hour blood pressure measurements, improving measures of vascular function (i.e. arterial stiffness), and improving the ratio of parasympathetic to sympathetic nervous system activation. This study involves a randomized controlled trial of 96 men and women presenting with either high-normal blood pressure (systolic 130 to 139 mmHg or diastolic 85 to 89 mmHg) or stage 1 hypertension (systolic 140 to 159 mmHg or diastolic 90 to 99 mmHg) stratified by blood pressure (i.e. either high normal or stage 1 hypertension), sex, and age (≥55y or <55y) and randomized to one of two groups for six months duration: 1) a flexibility program (30 minutes of stretching per day); or 2) an aerobic training program (30 minutes of brisk walking per day). Assessments pre- and post-intervention and three months later include: 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and heart rate variability. .
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Parallel groups: Two groups: Walking exercise and stretching exercise
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Stretching | Experimental | Other: Stretching exerciseStretching |
| Walking | Experimental | Other: Walking exerciseWalking |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Systolic blood pressure between 130 and 159 mmHg OR diastolic blood pressure between 85 and 99 mmHg
- Able to walk unaided for 30 minutes
- Can safely perform exercises as determined by the Get Active Questionnaire
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Not on blood pressure medication unless it has been a stable dose for 6 months and target blood pressure has not been achieved (i.e. below 140/90 mmHg)
- Smoking
- Already performing 150 minutes or more moderate to vigorous physical activity per week
- Already involved in a flexibility-training program (e.g. Yoga or Pilates)
- Pregnant or lactating or planning to become pregnant during the study
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Stretching exerciseStretching (30-45 minutes, 5 days per week, 6 months) | Other | Stretching |
| Walking exerciseWalking (30-45 minutes, 5 days per week, 6 months) | Other | Walking |
Primary outcome
Night time systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Time frame: Change from baseline night time blood pressure at 6 months
Blood pressure assessed during the night with an automated device
8 secondary outcomes
Day time systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Time frame: Change from baseline day time blood pressure at 6 months
Sitting systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Time frame: Change from baseline sitting blood pressure at 6 months
Lying systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Time frame: Change from baseline lying blood pressure at 6 months
Arterial stiffness
Time frame: Change from baseline arterial stiffness at 6 months
Heart rate variability
Time frame: Change from baseline heart rate variability at 6 months
Hamstrings flexibility
Time frame: Change from baseline hamstrings flexibiliity at 6 months
Shoulder flexibility
Time frame: Change from baseline shoulder flexibility at 6 months
Peak oxygen consumption
Time frame: Change from baseline peak oxygen consumption at 6 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Apr 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Philip Chilibeck, Ph.D. principal investigator
University of Saskatchewan
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Stretching exercise and Walking exercise in people with Hypertension, run by University of Saskatchewan at 1 site in Canada.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Apr 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Philip Chilibeck, Ph.D. (306-966-1072, phil.chilibeck@usask.ca), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Night time systolic and diastolic blood pressure (time frame: Change from baseline night time blood pressure at 6 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Apr 2025.