title: Twenty minutes of passive stretching lowers glucose levels in an at-risk population: an experimental study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Can passive static stretching lower blood glucose in an at-risk population?
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised, within-participant experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  22 adults (17 males) either at increased risk of Type 2 diabetes or with Type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants reported to the laboratory 2hr after eating a meal, and drank 355ml of fruit juice (∼43g carbohydrate). Thirty minutes later, they underwent either a 40min 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood 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 (0min), during the regimen (20min), and after the regimen (40min) on both study days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to mock stretch, stretching resulted in a significantly greater drop in blood glucose at 20min (mean difference 28mg/dL, 95% CI 13 to 43; or 1.57mmol/L, 95% CI 0.72 to 2.39). This effect was also statistically significant at 40min (mean difference 24mg/dL, 95% CI 9 to 39; or 1.35mmol/L, 95% CI 0.50 to 2.17).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that passive static stretching of the skeletal muscles may be an alternative to exercise to help lower blood glucose levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Louisiana State University, USA. anelso@lsu.edu
authors.forename: Arnold G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Joke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kokkonen
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Arnall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose