HealthyNCT07197047
Neck Static Stretching Acutely Reduces Blood Pressure Through Reduction of Tissue Stiffness
A study testing Neck static stretching in people with Healthy and Healthy Participants, run by University of Palermo at 1 site in Italy.
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 55 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy, Healthy Participants, Healthy Subjects
- What is being tested?
- Neck static stretching
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 25 participants
- Where
- 1 siteItaly
- Study dates
- 12 May 2025to 28 Jul 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 to 55 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- healthy male and female participants
- ≥ 18 years old
Who cannot join
- orthopedic disorders
- neurological disorders
- metabolic disorders
- cardovascular disorders
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Neck Static Stretching Acutely Reduces Blood Pressure Through Reduction of Tissue Stiffness: A Randomized Crossover Trial
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.
Read more
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.
Read the detailed description
Participants were recruited from the student population of the University of Palermo.
- Conditions
- Healthy, Healthy Participants, Healthy Subjects, Healthy Volunteers, Stretching, Stretch
- Being tested
- Neck 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
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Neck static stretchingOther
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"
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| SS | Experimental | Neck static stretching Receives: Other: Neck static stretching |
| CC | No intervention | Control Condition --> participants sat silently on a chair without performing any stretching intervention |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
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).
Measured: 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).
Measured: 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 with a small handheld device (NEUTONE TDM-N1, TRY-ALL Corp., Japan). This device gently pressed into the skin with a fixed pressure to see how deep it could go. The bone at the base of the neck (C7) was used as a reference point. Measurements were taken on both sides of this bone, 2 centimeters to the right and left. Participants lay face down on a medical bed and were asked to stay completely relaxed. 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).
Measured: 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 (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured with a Polar H10 chest strap sensor, a device known to give accurate results. To prepare, participants were asked not to drink coffee or alcohol, avoid hard exercise for 24 hours, and keep their normal sleep routine. The tests were always done at the same time of day in both conditions (SS and CC) to avoid daily rhythm effects. Participants lay on their back and rested for 5 minutes before the test. Then, HR and HRV were recorded for another 5 minutes while they breathed normally. The chest strap was placed just below the chest bone and secured around the chest. Once the signal was ready, data were sent automatically to a mobile app (Elite HRV). HRV shows how much the time between heartbeats changes. Average HR was calculated from the same recordings. All data were later analyzed with special software (Kubios HRV). The same approach proposed for the other outcomes will be used for data analysis.
Measured: 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).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted29 Sep 2025
- Study start12 May 2025
- Primary completion28 Jul 2025
- Study completion28 Jul 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for HealthyStudies 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
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 25 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Palermo
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ewan Thomas, University of Palermo
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07197047
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ST-BP 306/2025
- Status last verified
- Nov 2025
- First submitted
- 20 Sep 2025
- Last updated
- 19 Nov 2025
- Results posted
- 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 19 Nov 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Neck Static Stretching Acutely Reduces Blood Pressure Through Reduction of Tissue Stiffness: A Randomized Crossover Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07197047
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ST-BP 306/2025
- Conditions
- Healthy, Healthy Participants, Healthy Subjects, Healthy Volunteers, Stretching, Stretch
- Keywords
- stretching, static stretching, neck stretching, neck static stretching, blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, tissue stiffness
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 25 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of PalermoUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 12 May 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 28 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 28 Jul 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 29 Sep 2025 (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.
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.
Detailed description
Participants were recruited from the student population of the University of Palermo.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| SS | Experimental | Other: Neck static stretchingNeck static stretching |
| CC | No intervention | –Control Condition --> participants sat silently on a chair without performing any stretching intervention |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 55 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- healthy male and female participants
- ≥ 18 years old
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- orthopedic disorders
- neurological disorders
- metabolic disorders
- cardovascular disorders
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Neck static stretchingThe 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" | Other | SS |
Primary outcome
Blood pressure
Time frame: 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).
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).
Mean Arterial Pressure
Time frame: 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).
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).
2 secondary outcomes
Tissue stiffness
Time frame: 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
Time frame: 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).
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 19 Nov 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. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Neck static stretching in people with Healthy and Healthy Participants, run by University of Palermo at 1 site in Italy.
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 2 inclusion and 4 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Nov 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 Italy. 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Blood pressure (time frame: 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).). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. 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 19 Nov 2025.