Low intensity static stretching does not modulate heart rate variability in trained men

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the acute effect of static stretching on heart rate variability in trained men. METHODS: Eight subjects were randomly submitted to two situations, as follows: a static stretch protocol and 20 minutes at rest. The stretch protocol consisted of two sets of 30 seconds of static stretch of the chest muscles with a 40 second of interval between them. After 48 hours, the procedures were reversed so that all the subjects should were submitted to the two situations. The values of heart rate variability were measured before and after the experimental and control situation (stretch vs. rest). We registered the following cardiac variables: root mean square of standard deviation (rMSSD), the number of pairs of successive beats that differ by more than 50 ms (pNN50), low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF). The Shapiro-Wilk and the paired Student's test were used for statistical analysis; a critical level of significance of p 0.05) were found (stretching vs. control) to the RMSSD, pNN50, LF and HF indices. However, although no statistical differences were observed, the figures show large changes on mean values, suggesting an unclear effect on the sympathetic-vagal modulation. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that a low intensity (motion range until discomfort point) and volume (1 minute) of static stretching does not significantly affect the acute sympathetic-vagal control in trained men. Because the protocol did not show differences regarding the studied variables, we suggest that there is not a sufficient level of physiological basis to perform this type of exercise in a traditional pre-exercise setting, if the purpose is obtain gains in physical performance.