Key result
Stretching followed by resistance exercise significantly decreased RMSSDms (-50.79%) and HFnu (-34.8%), and increased LFnu (+12.8%) in healthy adults.
Why the study?
Does the order of resistance and stretching exercises affect heart rate variability and blood pressure in healthy adults?
RCT (n=20)
random order
Does the order of resistance and stretching exercises affect heart rate variability and blood pressure in healthy adults?
Performing stretching exercises before or between resistance exercise sets alters heart rate variability and may lower cardiac load.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Order of stretching before or between resistance exercise may shift acute autonomic balance in healthy adults; leaves open extension to patients or sustained effects.
da Silva Araujo, G, Behm, DG, Monteiro, ER, de Melo Fiuza, AGF, Gomes, TM, Vianna, JM, Reis, MS, and da Silva Novaes, J. Order effects of resistance and stretching exercises on heart rate variability and blood pressure in healthy adults. J Strength Cond Res 33(10): 2684-2693, 2019-The purpose of this study was to compare the acute effect of different combinations and order of resistance exercise (RE) and stretching exercise (SE) on heart rate variability, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Twenty subjects, recreationally trained, performed 5 sessions in a random order: (a) SE followed by RE no rest (SE + RE), (b) RE followed by SE no rest (RE + SE), (c) SE between RE sets (SBE), (d) SE isolated, and (e) RE isolated. Heart rate variability, SBP, and DBP were collected for 15 minutes before (baseline) and 60 minutes after each experimental session. A significant decrease was found for standardized deviation of differences between adjacent normal r-r intervals (RMSSDms) SE + RE (-50.79%), SE (+9.2%), SBE (-42.8%), and RE (-46.3%). Similarly, a significant increase was found for LFnu in SE + RE (+12.8%) and SBE (+16.6%). In addition, a significant decrease was found for HFnu in SE + RE (-34.8%) and SBE (-39.7%). Finally, a significant decrease was found for SBP in SE (-6.1%). In conclusion, this study indicated that SE followed by RE promotes a reduction in LFnu and RMSSDnu, with trivial to small magnitude decreases in SBP. Therefore, performing SE either before or between RE would be an important exercise prescription recommendation to lower cardiac load and consequently greater safety.
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Araújo et al. (2018) conducted an RCT in healthy adults (n=20). Combinations of resistance and stretching exercises vs. Isolated exercises and different combinations was evaluated on Heart rate variability, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. Stretching followed by resistance exercise significantly decreased RMSSDms (-50.79%) and HFnu (-34.8%), and increased LFnu (+12.8%) in healthy adults.
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