Flexibility: Link To Heart Disease/Heart Attacks?

Flexibility doesn't get the attention it deserves. Most people in the gym focus only on aerobic exercise and/or resistance training. Research suggests this approach may be a mistake. Several studies have noted stretching is good for your arteries. This means there is a connection between flexibility and heart disease risk factors. More specifically, a lack of flexibility appears to increase the risk of heart disease by making blood vessels stiffer. In this video review, I summarize the evidence and help you make sense of it.

Why Are Stiff Blood Vessels Bad?

Blood vessels that are stiffer are less able to vasodilate (open up) in response to nitric oxide or to physical activity, your mood or body position. This could lead to less blood reaching where it needs to (like the heart). In addition, stiffer blood vessels may be more easily damaged by increased blood pressure. This could increase the risk of strokes.

Humans have about 100,000 miles of blood vessels. They play an important role in our health.

Video: Flexibility and Blood Vessel Health

Watch on Youtube if you prefer

How Does Stretching Improve Blood Vessel Health?

I have not seen a good explanation for why blood vessel health is improved by stretching. When I first heard about this, I thought it was related to some people having overall better aerobic ability. New research casts doubt on that. Another proposed mechanism is that stretching may lower blood pressure. However, I noticed several studies do not show reduced blood pressure in the participants.

Common Flexibility Questions

How Often Should You Do Stretching Exercise?

Some of the studies have shown benefits in blood vessel function in as few as 1 session per week. It makes sense that more frequent stretching sessions would probably see greater benefits on artery function. For those who have not performed stretching before, start with only 1 or 2 times per week.

How Long Should You Hold The Stretch

Some investigations have had people hold the stretch for 20 seconds. In other studies, the time is longer. Don't get overwhelmed by this. Instead, just stretch to you feel mild discomfort and hold that position for a few seconds. As you get better, you can hold the stretch for longer times. If you are in the 10-second to 30-second window, you are doing ok.

Do You Have To Do Yoga To Get Benefits?

Some investigations on blood vessel health have used yoga (Bikram Yoga), also known as hot yoga. While yoga is popular, I don't think you need to do hot yoga to improve artery function. It can be any type of yoga class. Stretching at home will work too.

Will Stretching Reduce Muscle Soreness?

The idea that stretching will help sore muscles is a common myth. Muscle soreness – also called delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) – is the muscle pain that often pops up 1-2 days after you do an activity you are not used to doing. If you are not used to stretching, it's possible it may cause muscle soreness.

Can Flexibility Exercises Reduce Joint Pain?

Many times, yes. Studies show improving flexibility can help arthritis pain as well as reduce knee pain, shoulder pain, and low back pain. While it depends on what is causing the pain, I've seen this for myself; when I stretch a bit more, the pain temporarily subsides.

Can Dynamic Stretching Help?

Studies looking at flexibility and artery health have used static stretching. Studies linking dynamic stretching (ballistic or bouncy stretching) to improving blood vessel integrity cannot be located. Its quite possible it has a similar effect; however, more research is needed.

Does Stretching Lengthen Muscles?

This is a common myth. Muscles are attached to our bones at two different points. Stretching does not change the attachment points of muscles to the bones.

Should You Stretch Before Warming Up?

Most studies on artery function did not state if people warmed up before stretching. That said, warming up is often recommended before stretching, especially if you're stretching cold muscles. A warm-up is 5-10 minutes of low-level aerobic exercise. You can walk or ride a bike or use the elliptical machine. Anything that helps you break a sweat will count as a warm-up.

So, Should You Be Stretching?

While we still don't know if stretching prevents heart attacks, the writing on the wall tells us that improving our muscles' flexibility seems to improve our blood vessels' flexibility. The research suggests adding a little stretching to your exercise routine may be something to consider.

Any Comments or Questions?

References