Abstract
The purpose of this study is to find an easy way to prevent the hardening of the artery which is the typical results of bad life style. We measured the effects of easy stretch exercise for about 20-30 minutes in the morning and evening on average pulse pressure wave velocity (average PWV) and heart rate of young healthy women students (20-22yaers old), because, PWV is known to be a good indicator of the elasticity of artery, and heart rate to be an indicator of cardiac output. We measured the average PWV by recording ECG (first lead) simultaneously with extra-red pulse wave transducer attached to forefinger of the hand and second toe of the foot. We also measured BMI, maximum and minimum blood pressures.During three weeks after beginning of the every day stretch exercise, the average PWV gradually decreased about 2.6% along with the decrease of heart rate about 8%, of maximum blood pressure about 10%, of minimum blood pressure about 9%. BMI did not change by the stretch exercise.These results suggest that the stretch exercise easy to do is effective to prevent the hardening of the artery even in young healthy women. [Jpn J Physiol 54 Suppl:S186 (2004)]
