The effects of 6 weeks of constant-angle muscle stretching training on flexibility and muscle function in men with limited hamstrings' flexibility

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

European Journal of Applied Physiology

ISSN

1439-6327

Volume

119

Issue

8

First Page

1691

Last Page

1700

PubMed ID

31076891

Publisher

Springer

School

Centre for Exercise and Sports Science Research / School of Medical and Health Sciences

RAS ID

29598

Comments

Brusco, C. M., Blazevich, A. J., & Pinto, R. S. (2019). The effects of 6 weeks of constant-angle muscle stretching training on flexibility and muscle function in men with limited hamstrings’ flexibility. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 119(8), 1691-1700. Available here

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of 6 weeks of a constant-angle hamstring muscle flexibility training on muscle-tendon stiffness and the range of motion (ROM) in young men with limited hamstring ROM.

METHODS: 13 participants performed unilateral stretching training (EL), while the contralateral limb acted as control (CL). ROM, relative and peak passive torque, passive stiffness, dynamic knee flexion strength, and active optimum joint angle were assessed before and after the last training session. In addition, participants were tested during the first and last training sessions for first stretch sensation during the stretching procedure only in the EL.

RESULTS: Straight-leg raise and isokinetic knee ROM tests (both p < 0.0001; from 59.4 ± 8.1 to 70.3 ± 9.8, from 28.3 ± 7.6 to 18.5 ± 5.2, respectively) and peak passive torque (p = 0.001; from 53.1 ± 11.7 to 64.9 ± 12.3) increased only in EL and no changes in relative passive torque, passive stiffness, dynamic knee flexion strength, and active optimum joint angle (p > 0.05) were observed. At the point of first stretch sensation, significant increases in passive torque (p = 0.004) and angle (p < 0.001) were found from pre- to post-training.

CONCLUSION: The flexibility training induced significant increases in ROM alongside increases in peak passive torque (stretch tolerance) and the ROM at which stretch was first perceived. However, this occurred without changes in muscle-tendon mechanical properties or transfer to the untrained limb (CL). These results suggest that limb-specific ROM increases were underpinned by neural adaptations.

DOI

10.1007/s00421-019-04159-w

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