Twenty minutes of passive stretching lowers glucose levels in an at-risk population: an experimental study

QuestionCan passive static stretching lower blood glucose in an at-risk population?DesignRandomised, within-participant experimental study.Participants22 adults (17 males) either at increased risk of Type 2 diabetes or with Type 2 diabetes.InterventionThe participants reported to the laboratory 2 hr after eating a meal, and drank 355 ml of fruit juice (~43 g carbohydrate). Thirty minutes later, they underwent either a 40 min passive static stretching regimen or a mock passive stretching regimen. Stretching consisted of six lower body and four upper body static passive stretches. For the mock stretches, the same positions were adopted, but no tension was applied to the musculature.Outcome measuresBlood glucose levels for both the stretching and mock stretching were analysed from a finger prick sample using a hand-held glucometer. Values were obtained at baseline (0 min), during the regimen (20 min), and after the regimen (40 min) on both study days.ResultsCompared to mock stretch, stretching resulted in a significantly greater drop in blood glucose at 20 min (mean difference 28 mg/dL, 95% CI 13 to 43; or 1.57 mmol/L, 95% CI 0.72 to 2.39). This effect was also statistically significant at 40 min (mean difference 24 mg/dL, 95% CI 9 to 39; or 1.35 mmol/L, 95% CI 0.50 to 2.17).ConclusionThese results suggest that passive static stretching of the skeletal muscles may be an alternative to exercise to help lower blood glucose levels.