Scientists from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse found that passive stretching before running protects blood vessels from aerobic stress. The researchers will present their work at the American Physiology Summit.
Passive stretching, also called static stretching, involves holding a position for a long time, usually with the help of a tool (belt) or an assistant. In a new study of 16 college-aged men and women, scientists showed a significant decrease in the body’s ability to return oxygen to tissues after running.
At the same time, participants who practiced passive stretches were able to restore the oxygen supply to the tissues much more quickly. Also, blood vessels expanded faster and more fully while running in response to the increased blood flow.
“Although more research is needed, passive stretching is easy to perform, affordable, and can be a powerful tool that can be used for people who want to improve the health of their blood vessels or protect them from physical stress,” the scientists said.