title: Hemodynamic responses during and after multiple sets of stretching exercises performed with and without the Valsalva maneuver.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the acute hemodynamic responses to multiple sets of passive stretching exercises performed with and without the Valsalva maneuver.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen healthy men aged 21 to 29 years with poor flexibility performed stretching protocols comprising 10 sets of maximal passive unilateral hip flexion, sustained for 30 seconds with equal intervals between sets. Protocols without and with the Valsalva maneuver were applied in a random counterbalanced order, separated by 48-hour intervals. Hemodynamic responses were measured by photoplethysmography pre-exercise, during the stretching sets, and post-exercise.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effects of stretching sets on systolic and diastolic blood pressure were cumulative until the fourth set in protocols performed with and without the Valsalva maneuver. The heart rate and rate pressure product increased in both protocols, but no additive effect was observed due to the number of sets. Hemodynamic responses were always higher when stretching was performed with the Valsalva maneuver, causing an additional elevation in the rate pressure product.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multiple sets of unilateral hip flexion stretching significantly increased blood pressure, heart rate, and rate pressure product values. A cumulative effect of the number of sets occurred only for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, at least in the initial sets of the stretching protocols. The performance of the Valsalva maneuver intensified all hemodynamic responses, which resulted in significant increases in cardiac work during stretching exercises.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health Promotion, Rio de Janeiro State University.
authors.forename: Tainah P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health Promotion, Rio de Janeiro State University.
authors.forename: Paulo T V
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Farinatti
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health Promotion, Rio de Janeiro State University.
authors.forename: Ercole C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Rubini
authors.affiliation: Department of Science of Physical Activity, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elirez B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health Promotion, Rio de Janeiro State University.
authors.forename: Walace D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Monteiro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D017156:Photoplethysmography / Q000379:methods; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D014636:Valsalva Maneuver / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult