Time-based Effects of Stretching on Hamstrings Muscle Strength

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Stretching is reported to have detrimental effects on strength and thus avoided prior to strength training session. Do stretching indeed decreases muscle strength? To examine the time course (immediate, 10- and 20-min post stretching) for the effects of 2, 4, and 8 min long duration of static-stretching (SS) on isometric maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) force of hamstring muscles.

Detailed Description
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OBJECTIVE: To examine the time course (immediate, 10- and 20-min post stretching) for the effects of 2, 4, and 8 min long duration of static-stretching (SS) on isometric maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) force of hamstring muscles. METHODS: Pretest-posttest experimental design. Total of 14 subjects with mean age 25 years participated in three experimental trials on three different days. On day-I for static-stretching for 2 minutes (SS2), day-II for 4 minutes (SS4), and day-III for 8 minutes (SS8). Testing was conducted before (pre), immediately after (post), and at 10 and 20 min post stretching. MVCF was measured using strain gauze as the main outcome measure.

Official Title
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Time-based Effects of Stretching on Hamstrings Muscle Strength

Conditions
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Stretch

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Static stretching


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Subjects used to engage in 1 to 5 hours of physical activity per week. They were not doing stretching exercises regularly. Exclusion Criteria: Subjects having any current injury specific to lower limb joints or current neuromuscular disease were excluded from the study.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 24 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: Other
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Hamstring Group<br>Pretest-posttest experimental design. Subjects participated in three experimental trials on three different days. On day-I for static-stretching for 2 minutes (SS2), day-II for 4 minutes (SS4), and day-III for 8 minutes (SS8). Testing was conducted before (pre), immediately after (post), and at 10 and 20 min post stretching. MVCF was measured using strain gauze as main outcome measure. The SS trials involved varied repetitions of 30-s static-stretches and 20-s relax period. MVC force was assessed. | Other: Static stretching<br>* Static stretchings were performed by subjects that involved varied repetitions of 30-s static-stretches and 20-s relax period.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Maximum voluntary contraction force (MVCF) before and after stretching | Change in Isometric strength (MVCF) was measured before and after stretching using strain gauge | MVCF was measured on 3 different days with each day separated by 3-4 days. | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Stretching, Muscle strength, Hamstring Muscles