Is a good stretch better than walking in reducing blood pressure?

In a recent study, participants were split into two groups. One group would follow a stretching program that consisted of 21 different exercises over 30-minutes 5 times a week (over an eight-week period). The other group would do an equivalent of 30-minutes brisk walk over the same period of time.

This study was the analysis of 40 adults with hypertension at the University of Saskatchewan and all of the participants wore a blood pressure monitor for the study. After the eight-weeks, both groups blood pressure had reduced but the group that engaged in full-body stretching significantly more than the walking group.

With stretching, the body benefits from lowering blood pressure and therefore stiffness of our arteries and therefore the body’s blood flow. In other words, when you stretch your muscles, you’re also stretching all the blood vessels that feed into the muscle, including all the arteries.

Stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong, and healthy, and we need that flexibility to maintain a range of motion in the joints. Without it, the muscles shorten and become tight. Then, when you call on the muscles for activity, they are weak and unable to extend all the way. That puts you at risk for joint pain, strains, and muscle damage.

Stretching once today won’t magically give you perfect flexibility. You’ll need to do it over time and remain committed to the process. I always tell my clients that your muscles are like “elastic bands” you need to stretch them regularly so that they do not become “dry and brittle ie. rigid”.

However, when it comes to weight loss, walking would have the better results. The walking group did lose more waist circumference, so it would seem doing both activities would be the better choice going forwards. Aerobic activity increases oxygen levels and in turn effect body fat, cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Both activities are beneficial to your overall health and a 30-minutes stretch whilst you are watching TV that can result in reducing blood pressure is something that can be easily incorporated into your lifestyle.

#bloodpressure #goodhealth #lifestyle #walking #muscles #relax