| Title | Stretching increases heart rate variability in healthy athletes complaining about limited muscular flexibility. | ||
| Author | Mueck-Weymann, Michael; Janshoff, G; Mueck, H | ||
| Journal | Clin Auton Res | Publication Year/Month | 2004-Feb |
| PMID | 15045595 | PMCID | -N/A- |
| Affiliation | 1.Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany. michael.mueck@web.de. | ||
An increase in muscular flexibility, as well as a significant beneficial effect on heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV), was observed in healthy male athletes after performing a standardized 15-minute stretching-program over a period of 28 days. We believe the HRV increase to be due, at least in part, to the improved vagal and/or diminished sympathetic control. Therefore, we recommend stretching as an effective and gentle technique for health protection.