Relation Between Rectus Femoris Muscle Tension and Hamstring Strength and Activity in Healthy Sprinters

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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An open-label, single-group, control, pretest-posttest clinical trial is going to be conducted, with 16 healthy sprinters. Rectus femoris length and hamstring strength and electromyography is going to be assessed at baseline, after 10 minutes control and after an static rectus femoris stretching technique. The main objective is to register if an increase in rectus femoris stretching Range of Motion, increases hamstring strength and activity due to their antagonic relationship and their relation with pelvic tilt.

Official Title
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Relation Between Rectus Femoris Muscle Tension and Hamstring Strength and Activity in Healthy Sprinters

Conditions
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Muscle Stretching Exercise

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Rectus femoris stretching


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion criteria: The athletes recruited have to be under regular training and competition Free of any symptoms, at least 3 days training weekly for the last three years Give written consent Exclusion criteria: - Subjects who have suffered lower limb or back injuries during those last three years

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Control<br>5 minutes waiting time | |
| Experimental: Stretching<br>Rectus femoris static stretching during 90' (with three hold-relax progressions until final ROM) | Procedure: Rectus femoris stretching<br>* Patient lying prone with the non-implicated leg outside the treatment table resting on the floor. Physical therapist flexes patients knee until tension is felt. In that position 5 seconds' isometric contraction is asked and physical therapist progresses in knee flexion range of motion until new tension is felt. After three contract-relax procedures physical therapist holds the range of motion for 30 seconds.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rectus femoris length | Knee flexion range of motion with inclinometer | Inmediate after intervention; up to 10 minutes | 
| Biceps femoris strength | Dynamometry | Inmediate after intervention; up to 10 minutes | 
| Gluteus maximus strength | Dynamometry | Inmediate after intervention; up to 10 minutes | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rectus femoris tensomyography | tensomyography | Inmediate after intervention; up to 10 minutes | 
| Pelvic anteversion | Photometry of lateral view | Inmediate after intervention; up to 10 minutes | 
| Sprint muscle activity | Electromyography | Inmediate after intervention; up to 10 minutes | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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sprint, muscle length, strength