Mechanical and physiological responses to stretching with and without preisometric contraction in human skeletal muscle

doi:10.1016/S0003-9993(96)90087-8

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Volume 77, Issue 4, April 1996, Pages 373-378

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-9993(96)90087-8 Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective: To examine electromyography (EMG) activity, passive torque, and stretch perception during static stretch and contract-relax stretch.

Design: Two separate randomized crossover protocols: (1) a constant angle protocol on the right side, and (2) a variable angle protocol on the left side.

Subjects: 10 male volunteers.

Intervention: Stretch-induced mechanical response in the hamstring muscles during passive knee extension was measured as knee flexion torque (Nm) while hamstring surface EMG was measured. Final position was determined by extending the knee to an angle that provoked a sensation similar to a stretch maneuver. Constant angle stretch: The knee was extended to 10/dg below final position, held 10sec, then extended to the final position and held for 80sec. Variable angle stretch: The knee was extended from the starting position to 10/dg below the final position, held 10sec, then extended to the onset of pain. Subjects produced a 6-sec isometric contraction with the hamstring muscles 10/dg below the final position in the contract-relax stretch, but not in the static stretch.

Main Outcome Measures: Passive torque, joint range of motion, velocity, and hamstring EMG were continuously recorded.

Results: Constant angle contract-relax and static stretch did not differ in passive torque or EMG response. In the final position, passive torque declined 18% to 21% in both contract-relax and static stretch (p < .001), while EMG activity was unchanged. In the variable angle protocol, maximal joint angle and corresponding passive torque were significantly greater in contract-relax compared with static stretch (p < .01), while EMG did not differ.

Conclusion: At a constant angle the viscoelastic and EMG response was unaffected by the isometric contraction. The variable angle protocol demonstrated that PNF stretching altered stretch perception.

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No significant sex differences were found for pressure pain thresholds (p > 0.132), range of motion (p = 0.446) or passive resistive torque (p = 0.559) between pre-stretch and post-stretch measures. There were significant increases in pressure pain thresholds (p = 0.010), range of motion (p = 0.001) and passive resistive torque (p = 0.007) between pre-stretch and post-stretch measures.
Muscle stretching significantly decreased regional and widespread pain sensitivity, indicating that central pain-modulating mechanisms are engaged during muscle stretching, resulting in stretch-induced hypoalgesia. Moreover, the results showed that the effect of stretching on regional and widespread pain sensitivity is not sex-specific.
Is quadriceps passive stretching as effective as self-stretching in soccer athletes? Randomized clinical trial
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Comparar los efectos de un estiramiento pasivo del músculo cuádriceps frente a un autoestiramiento en la flexibilidad de los músculos del muslo y el rango de movimiento (ROM) de la cadera en jugadores de fútbol.
Se diseñó un ensayo clínico aleatorizado en el que se incluyeron 34 jugadores de fútbol amateur con déficit de flexibilidad en el músculo cuádriceps. Los jugadores fueron aleatorizados en dos grupos (grupo estiramiento o grupo autoestiramiento). Cada participante recibió una única sesión de estiramiento pasivo o autoestiramiento del cuádriceps en su pierna dominante. Se valoró la flexibilidad del cuádriceps mediante el test de Ely, la flexibilidad de los isquiotibiales mediante el Passive Knee Extension test, y ROM de flexión y extensión de la cadera.
Ambos grupos mostraron un aumento estadísticamente significativo de la flexibilidad del cuádriceps, de la flexibilidad de los isquiotibiales y del ROM de extensión de la cadera sin diferencias significativas entre ellos (p > 0,05). El grupo estiramiento mostró unos tamaños del efecto grandes en la flexibilidad y el ROM de extensión (d > 0,8), siendo superiores a los registrados en el grupo autoestiramiento.
La flexibilidad de los músculos cuádriceps e isquiotibiales, así como el ROM de extensión de cadera aumentaron tras el estiramiento y el autoestiramiento del músculo cuádriceps. Los tamaños del efecto mostrados por el grupo estiramiento fueron superiores a los del grupo autoestiramiento.
To compare the effects of quadriceps passive stretching or quadriceps self-stretching in muscle flexibility and hip range of motion (ROM) in football athletes.
A randomized clinical trial was carried out. Thirty-four football athletes with lack of flexibility in the quadriceps muscle were included and randomized in two groups (Stretching group or self-stretching group) and received a single session of quadriceps passive stretching or quadriceps self-stretching in the dominant lower limb. The outcome variables were: quadriceps flexibility measured with the Ely's test, hamstring flexibility measured with the Passive Knee Extension test and hip flexion and extension ROM.
Both groups achieved a statistically significant improvement of quadriceps flexibility, hamstrings flexibility and hip extension ROM without statistically significant differences between them (p > 0.05). The stretching group reported large effect sizes in muscle flexibility and hip extension ROM (d > 0.8), and the effect sizes of the stretching group were higher than the self-stretching group.
Flexibility of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles as well as hip extension ROM increased after stretching and self-stretching of the quadriceps muscle. The effect sizes shown by the stretching group were higher than those of the self-stretching group.
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According to biomechanical considerations, ITBS may be promoted by anatomical predisposition, joint malalignments, aberrant activation of inserting muscles as well as excessive ITB stiffness. Hip abductor strengthening may correct excessive hip adduction but also increase ITB strain. Intermittent stretching interventions are unlikely to change the ITB's length or mechanical properties. Running retraining is a promising yet understudied intervention.
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Citation Excerpt :
This can increase the ROM by autogenic inhibition of the target muscle (Singh et al., 2017). As a mechanical factor, the muscle-tendon unit (MTU) is believed to respond viscoelastically during the stretching maneuver (Magnusson et al., 1996). Viscous and elastic mechanical properties refer to the response of the tissue load, which is a property of the viscous and elastic components.
Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching at low intensities has been rarely investigated. Previous studies have shown that hamstring flexibility after stretching is only temporary.
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of low intensities (40% and 10% of maximum voluntary isometric contraction, MVIC) of PNF stretching on hamstring muscles and to assess the effect of standing toe touch on the duration of hamstring flexibility.
This was a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Sixty-four healthy adults (age, 22.67 ± 1.73 years) were selected and divided into four groups: 40% intensity PNF stretching (P40), 10% intensity PNF stretching (P10), 40% intensity PNF stretching with toe touch (P40 with TT), and 10% intensity PNF stretching with toe touch (P10 with TT). Hamstring flexibility was measured using the active knee extension test (pre-stretching, post-stretching, and 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 min after PNF stretching).
In the P40, P40 with TT, and P10 with TT groups, significant changes were observed at all time points after stretching (p < 0.05). In the P10 group, significant changes were only observed immediately post stretching (p = 0.006) and at 3 min (p = 0.029) after stretching. In terms of maintaining the duration of flexibility, the P40 with TT and P10 with TT groups were superior to the P40 and P10 groups.
PNF stretching at low intensity, approaching 40% of MVIC, led to more flexibility than 10% MVIC. Additionally, standing toe touch after PNF stretching is recommended to develop and maintain hamstring flexibility.
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ArticleMechanical and physiological responses to stretching with and without preisometric contraction in human skeletal muscle☆

Abstract

J Biomech

Arch Phys Med Rehabil

Viscoelastic properties of muscle-tendon units

Neuromuscular basis of stretching exercise

Electromyographic investigation of muscle stretching techniques

Med Sci Sports Exerc

Comments on prorioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching techniques

Res Q

Chronic and acute flexibility of men and women using three different stretching techniques

Res Q

Muscle stretching and motoneuron excitability

Eur J Appl Physiol

The effects of cold application and modified PNF stretching techniques on hip joint flexibility in college males

Res Q Exerc Sport

The relationship between isometric contractions of hip extensors and subsquent flexibility in males

J Sports Med

A comparison of static stretching and PNF stretching for improving hip joint flexibility

Athletic Training

Flexibility training: ballistic, static or proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation?

Arch Phys Med Rehabil

Muscle activation during proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching techniques

Am J Phys Med

Differential responses to proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretch techniques

Med Sci Sports Exerc

Soleus muscle electromyographic activity and ankl;e dorsiflexion range of motion during four stretching procedures

Phys Ther

Article
Mechanical and physiological responses to stretching with and without preisometric contraction in human skeletal muscle☆