12 Weeks Of Stretching Can Save You From Vascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is a widespread
problem, affecting nearly a million people a year in the United States.
Approximately half as many people are affected by stroke, another
ailment caused by cardiovascular disease. A failing cardiovascular
system can have incredibly severe effects on the body. However, there
may be little cause for alarm if you keep stretching regularly.
Researchers from the University of Milan performed a study recently that
determined that passive stretching can play an incredible role in
improving arterial blood flow and strengthening the vascular system. Of
course, all exercise is beneficial, but passive stretching may be the
best way to stave off a stroke.
What is Vascular Disease?
The human circulatory system is made up of
100,000 miles of veins, arteries, and blood vessels. Vascular disease
refers to a wide range of diseases that can affect blood vessels. It is a
sub-class of cardiovascular diseases that specifically affects the
veins and arteries of the circulatory system. Some, like
Erythromelalgia, can cause swelling and pain in the hands and feet. Most
vascular diseases can cause irregular clotting in the arteries or other
forms of constriction that can lead to stiffness of the limbs and
extremities.
It can be difficult to diagnose vascular
illnesses. Though dysfunction of the vascular system can affect people
of all ages, plaque build-up in the arteries tends to occur naturally
with age. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity, among many
other signs of an unhealthy lifestyle, can all be causal factors of
vascular disease.
Vascular diseases also obstruct the flow of oxygenated blood to the
tissues and organs throughout the blood. This can also lead to arterial
blockages, which, once they have set in, are extremely difficult to
reverse. Given the difficulty in diagnosing and reversing this ailment,
the safest bet is to follow through with a healthy lifestyle and work
towards reducing the possibility of developing arterial stiffness in the
early stages.
Starting the study
On 1st July 2020, a study was published by
researchers from the University of Milan, Italy. The purpose of the
study was to determine whether or not passive stretching could promote
the flow of blood through the vascular system and thereby reduce the
likelihood of falling prey to vascular disease. 39 healthy participants
were selected and split into two monitored groups.
The study was carried out over a period of 12 weeks, i.e. 3 months,
during which one group was instructed to engage in passive stretching
while the other was told not to stretch. Before the experiment began,
the measurements (which are indirect markers of arterial stiffness) of
all the participants were taken, which included but were not limited to
passive limb movement, knee and ankle flexibility, and even skin
landmarks, like moles, scars and other anomalies.
Once all measurements were taken, the study continued with the first
group being required to commence their passive stretching.
What is Passive Stretching?
Passive and active stretching are two
seemingly similar ways to keep fit which can have very different effects
on the body because of the manner in which they are carried out. Active
stretching is the most common sort, a solo activity that involves
moving and contracting your muscles actively without any external force.
Passive stretching requires the muscles to be relaxed while stretching
and needs an external force to move the limbs into different positions.
Passive stretching is essentially assisted stretching and allows the
body to bend freely while the muscles are at rest.
The Results
Participants in the first group were
required to engage in 40-minute sessions of passive stretching 5 days a
week for the duration of the experiment, with a focus on leg stretches.
After the first six weeks, and then after the final six weeks, the
measurements of both groups of participants were collected.
There was a clear significant improvement in the vascular health of the
participants that engaged in the stretching exercises. The study also
showed improvement in the ability of arteries to respond appropriately
to increased blood flow, a phenomenon termed as flow-mediated dilation,
which reduces the likelihood of irregular clotting or blockages.
A New Focus 
What made the results of this study truly
extraordinary was its focus on the vascular system itself. Most studies
to date have been centered around cardiovascular illnesses, which can be
tempered with a variety of exercises like swimming, running, and
biking. Though these exercises can be effective in maintaining healthy
arteries, it leaves little room for those leaning toward non-cardio
training, like aerobics.
Passive stretching was conclusively determined in this study to have a
serious and remarkable effect on vascular function, as was seen in the
major distinctions between the subjects from both test groups. This
study could be the first step towards further insight into how vascular
diseases develop and how the arteries function. It may also lead to the
development of more inclusive and varied exercise regimens and
rehabilitation programs for people suffering from vascular diseases.