Association of body flexibility and carotid atherosclerosis in Japanese middle-aged men: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study examined the associations of body flexibility with carotid arterial remodelling, including intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque formation in middle-aged men.

Methods

The subjects of this cross-sectional study included 1354 Japanese men aged 35-59 years without histories of stroke or cardiac diseases. The arm extensibility test, which can estimate flexibility of the upper extremity (composed of shoulder external rotation and forearm supination), and the sit-and-reach test were performed. Common carotid IMT and plaque formation (≥1.1 mm) were estimated by ultrasound.

Results

The proportion of subjects who fully completed the arm extensibility test was 55.0%, and who had plaques in the common carotid artery was 37.8%. IMT was associated with poor

SUBMITTER: Suwa M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5781189 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature