Stretching Versus Walking to Lower High Blood Pressure
Compares supervised stretching with brisk walking in adults with high blood pressure.
Key facts
- Who runs it
- University of Saskatchewan
- Where
- Saskatoon, CanadaSee the site
- Trial code
- Registry title
- Stretching vs Walking for Lowering Blood Pressure
- Status
- Recruiting
- People taking part
- 96 people, planned
- Started
- 28 Mar 2022
- Planned end
- 30 Aug 2026
- Type of study
- Interventional, 2 groups
- Treatments tested
- Stretching exercise
- Walking exercise
- Record updated
- 23 April 2025
Who can take part
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults with raised blood pressure who can walk on their own. They will do either stretching or walking five days a week for six months.
- Age
- 18 years or older
- Sex
- All sexes can join
- Disease stage
- Systolic blood pressure between 130 and 159 mmHg OR diastolic blood pressure between 85 and 99 mmHg
- Earlier treatment
- People on blood pressure medication can join only if the dose has been stable for 6 months and the target blood pressure (below 140/90 mmHg) has not been reached.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Smoking
- Already doing 150 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week
- Already in a flexibility-training program, such as yoga or Pilates
- Pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant during the study
- Cannot walk unaided for 30 minutes or cannot safely exercise by the Get Active Questionnaire
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 8 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- 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 take part
- 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
Where in Canada
- University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, CanadaContact: John Ko, M.Sc.Taking people
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
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.
The 2 groups in the trial
- StretchingTreatment being tested
Treatment: Stretching exercise
- WalkingTreatment being tested
Treatment: Walking exercise
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- Is Stretching Superior to Aerobic Training for Reducing Blood Pressure?
- Plain-language title
- Stretching Versus Walking to Lower High Blood PressureGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
- AI summary
- From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
- Record updated
- 23 April 2025