Effects of dynamic stretching in seated or supine position on blood glucose levels among young adult women wearing maternity simulation jacket

During pregnancy, physiological insulin resistance increases due to endocrine factors secreted by the placenta. Gestational diabetes mellitus is an example of a common complication arising from this phenomenon, for which exercise therapy is used as standard treatment. While the acute effects of static stretching on blood glucose levels are known, the effects of dynamic stretching in a seated or supine position are unclear. This study investigated the effects of dynamic stretching in a seated or supine position on blood glucose levels in young adult women with post-load hyperglycemia wearing a maternity simulation jacket. We included 11 healthy women in the luteal phase of their menstrual cycles with blood glucose levels >140 mg/dL 30 min after glucose loading. Four exercise conditions were established: bed-stretching (BSt) involving dynamic stretching in a seated, supine, or lateral position; standing-stretching (SSt) involving dynamic stretching in a standing position; walking (W) involving treadmill walking at a comfortable speed; and control (C) involving sitting at rest. After fasting for 10–14 h, blood glucose levels were measured using self-monitoring blood glucose at baseline and every 15 min for 120 min thereafter. In the BSt and W conditions, the blood glucose levels, peaks, and area under the curve at 45 and 60 min after glucose loading were significantly lower than those in the C condition. Therefore, dynamic stretching in a seated or supine position suppressed blood glucose level elevation after glucose loading in young adult women with post-load hyperglycemia wearing a maternity simulation jacket.