Stretching review finds tentative blood-pressure changes in limited evidence
Reported changes in systolic and diastolic pressure differed in statistical certainty, and the pooled findings changed when another study was included.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The exploratory pooled analysis suggested lower diastolic blood pressure with stretching, while the systolic estimate did not reach statistical significance. Adding another study in a sensitivity analysis changed the systolic result to statistically significant. That dependence on which studies were included, together with study-quality concerns, limits confidence in stretching’s blood-pressure effects.
Only a small number of studies contributed to pooling. Designs and participants varied, most randomized trials raised bias concerns, and nonrandomized studies had critical bias ratings. This abstract-based summary cannot establish long-term clinical benefit.
Protocols and timing varied
All included protocols used static stretching. The review covered several study designs and distinguished immediate responses from changes after repeated stretching; immediate blood-pressure responses were more variable, while longer interventions more often reported improved arterial-stiffness measures.
Interpreting the pooled results
The main systolic estimate’s confidence interval included no difference. A significant diastolic result does not resolve uncertainty about how long changes last, or show that stretching prevents cardiovascular events in this population.
The original publication
Effects of Different Types of Stretching on Hypertension: A Systematic Review with Exploratory Meta-Analysis.
Themistocleous IC, Michael C, Hadjisavvas S et al.
J Funct Morphol Kinesiol · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 42029532
- Record checked
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