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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07649785

Static Stretching Reshapes Post-RT Recovery

This experimental study investigates the acute cardiovascular and local recovery to a single session of resistance training, with and without additional static stretching, compared with a resting control condition. Participants are allocated to one of three groups (control, resistance training, resistance training plus static stretching) and assessed at baseline, immediately after the session, and 30 minutes post-exercise. Primary outcomes include rate-pressure product and local muscle oxygen saturation, while secondary outcomes include heart rate, blood pressure, brachial artery diameter, tissue hardness, and pressure pain threshold. These measures are used to characterize the short-term effects of the different experimental conditions on systemic hemodynamic load, vascular response, local muscle oxygenation, mechanical tissue status, and pressure pain sensitivity during early recovery.

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Key information

Conditions

Healthy Cardiovascular Adaption Healthy Subjects (HS) Recovery Outcomes Stretching

Age range

18 year–55 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Palermo

Palermo, Italy, 90144

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • healthy male participants ≥ 18 years old

Exclusion criteria

  • orthopedic disorders
  • neurological disorders
  • metabolic disorders
  • cardovascular disorders

Treatment and study plan

Resistance training

Other

Participants assigned to this group will complete a single supervised upper body resistance training session. The protocol includes bench presses and bicep curls performed at 100% of the individual's 8-rep max, for 4 sets of 8 reps, with standardized rest intervals between sets of 2 minutes. The total duration of the session is approximately 20-25 minutes and does not include any additional static stretching beyond the standardized warm-up.

Resistance training + Static Stretching

Other

Participants assigned to this group will complete a single supervised upper body resistance training session. The protocol includes bench presses and bicep curls performed at 100% of the individual's 8-rep max, for 4 sets of 8 reps, with standardized rest intervals between sets of 2 minutes. The total duration of the session is approximately 20-25 minutes .Immediately after the resistance exercises, they will complete a structured static stretching protocol targeting the trained muscle groups (pectoralis and elbow flexor), with each stretch held for about 30 seconds and repeated for several sets. The additional stretching lasts 12 minutes, for a total session duration of about 30-35 minutes.

Primary outcomes

  1. Rate-Pressure Product (RPP)

    Time frame: 3 times (Baseline, immediately after intervantion and 30 minutes after intervention) for each condition (CC, RT, RT+ST)

    Rate-pressure product (RPP) will be used as an index of myocardial workload and hemodynamic load during early post-exercise recovery. RPP will be calculated as heart rate multiplied by systolic blood pressure (Omron MX3 Plus). Heart rate and systolic blood pressure will be measured under standardized resting conditions at each time point.

  2. Local Muscle Oxygen Saturation (SmO₂)

    Time frame: Time Frame: 3 times (Baseline, immediately after intervantion and 30 minutes after intervention) for each condition (CC, RT, RT+ST)

    Local muscle oxygen saturation (SmO₂) will be assessed using near-infrared spectroscopy (Moxy Monitor). The sensor will be positioned over the target muscle region and secured to minimize movement artifacts. SmO₂ will be recorded as a local index of the balance between oxygen delivery and oxygen utilization within the sampled muscle region.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Brachial Artery diameter

    Time frame: Time Frame: 3 times (Baseline, immediately after intervention, and 30 minutes after intervention) for each condition (CC, RT, RT+SS)

    Brachial artery diameter will be assessed using high-resolution B-mode ultrasound (Esaote MyLab X1 GO, linear-array transducer). The brachial artery will be imaged under standardized conditions, and arterial diameter will be measured at each time point to assess acute changes in conduit artery size during early post-exercise recovery.

  2. Tissue Hardness (TH)

    Time frame: Time Frame: 3 times (Baseline, immediately after intervention, and 30 minutes after intervention) for each condition (CC, RT, RT+SS)

    Tissue hardness (TH) will be assessed using a tissue hardness meter/force gauge (Neutone) at selected muscle sites involved in the exercise protocol, including the pectoral and biceps regions. Measurements will be performed under standardized participant positioning and probe placement conditions. TH will be used as a local mechanical marker of the post-exercise tissue response.

  3. Pain pressure Threshold(PPT)

    Time frame: Time Frame: 3 times (Baseline, immediately after intervention, and 30 minutes after intervention) for each condition (CC, RT, RT+SS)

    Pressure pain threshold (PPT) will be assessed using a pressure algometer(WAGNER, FPX) at selected muscle sites involved in the exercise protocol. The algometer will be applied perpendicular to the skin surface with gradually increasing pressure until the participant reports the first sensation of pain. PPT will be used as a sensory marker of local pressure pain sensitivity during early recovery.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Palermo

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Hemodynamic Load and Local Recovery Patterns After Resistance Training With and Without Static Stretching

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jun 16, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 16, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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