STRETCHING
Conditions
Keywords
Muscle strength, muscle stretching exercises, strain gauge
Brief summary
Muscular flexibility is believed to prevent injuries and improve movement therefore most coaches include stretching exercises in their pre-competition and pre-exercise warm-up routines. One question arises here, should sports persons avoid stretching exercises prior to sporting events thereby exposing themselves to musculoskeletal injuries, or should they continue stretching exercises prior to sporting events and risk losing the maximal performance? The aim of this study is to compare the effects of 2, 4, and 8 min of static stretching (SS) on isometric maximum voluntary contraction (MVCF) force between proximal (Hamstrings) and distal group (Calf) of muscles.
Detailed description
OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of 2, 4, and 8 min of static stretching (SS) on isometric maximum voluntary contraction (MVCF) force between proximal (Hamstrings) and distal group (Calf) of muscles. DESIGN: Two-group pretest-posttest experimental design. METHODS: Each subject visited the Rehabilitation center on three days: On day-I for static stretching for 2 minutes (SS2), day-II for 4 minutes (SS4), and day-III for 8 minutes (SS8). Isometric Maximum Voluntary Contraction Force (MVCF) measurement was done prior (Pre), 0-min, 10-min, and 20-min post-intervention (i.e. stretching). Each visit was separated by a gap of at least 3-4 days. On each visit, each subject underwent (a). Pre-intervention evaluation, (b). Intervention, (c). Post-intervention evaluation. Subjects performed stretching exercises under the supervision of expert Physical Therapist. The outcome assessor who was kept blind to study protocol did all measurements.
Interventions
On day-I: Static Stretching done for 2 minutes (SS2), on day-II: Static Stretching done for 4 minutes (SS4), and on day-III: Static Stretching done for 8 minutes (SS8).
Sponsors
King Saud University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
22 Years to 30 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
For group A: subjects performed active knee extension test and those lacking at least 20 degrees of active knee extension range, with hip in 90 degree of flexion were selected. For group B (Calf): Subjects performed active foot dorsiflexion in long sitting position with back supported against the wall and those having not more than 20-degree range of motion were selected. Selected subjects used to engage in 1-5 hours of regular physical activity per week (recreationally active) that does not involve stretching exercise
Exclusion criteria
Subjects reporting any current or ongoing neuromuscular disease, injury specific to lower limb joints, any apparent limit in knee or ankle ROM and competitive/professional athletes were excluded from study.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in isometric maximum voluntary contraction force before and after stretching | MVCF was measured immediately (0 min), 10-min and 20 min post intervention on 3 different days, with each day separated by gap of 3-4 days. | Change in isometric muscle strength measured before and after stretching using strain gauge on 3 different days |
Countries
Saudi Arabia
Outcome results
None listed