Differents Intensities of Passive Stretching on ROM, Neuromuscular and Performance in Soccer Players: A Blinded RCT

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Intensity is a qualitative variable of a muscle stretching protocol, which is very little studied due to its inherent characteristic of the individual being stretched. However, it was pointed out as an important factor for ADM gain. To verify the effects of different intensities of static passive stretching on flexibility, neuromuscular and functional performance in soccer athletes.

Detailed Description
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It is a randomized, controlled, clinical trial, composed of male subjects, soccer players, randomly divided into 4 groups: Control Group (CG), Experimental Group 1 (GE1), Experimental Group 2 (GE2) And Experimental Group 3 (GE3). Initially, the measurements of flexibility (passive and active), neuromuscular (muscular passive torque, electromyographic activity), and functional (vertical jump and shuttle run test) of non-dominant lower limbs, performed before and immediately after the 1st And 48 hours after the last session. The GC will only be submitted for initial evaluation and final re-evaluation. The experimental groups will undergo a protocol of static passive stretching containing 10 sessions, divided into 3 weekly sessions, with 3 maneuvers of 30 s, but with different intensities (Tolerable Maximum Pain, Maximum No Pain Discomfort, and Stretching Sensation Without Discomfort) Established from a PERFLEX-modified visual scale. Groups with higher static passive stretching intensities (Maximum Tolerable Pain and Maximum Painless Discomfort) are expected to have greater gains in flexibility, with no change in muscle passive torque, electromyographic activity and functional performance, while the intensity of Feeling of Stretching without Discomfort (in a comfort zone) provides a greater decrease of the muscular passive torque, without significant change of the flexibility, in individual athletes of soccer. This work may contribute to the clinical practice of health professionals, since it seeks to improve the elaboration of the clinical prescription of protocols of static passive stretching (whether performed by the individual or not), establishing optimal levels of intensity for a given muscle group.

Official Title
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Effects of Different Intensities of Passive Static Stretching on Flexibility, Neuromuscular and Functional Performance in Soccer Athletes: A Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Conditions
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Contracture of Muscle, Thigh, Muscle Rigidity, Strain of Hamstring Muscle (Disorder)

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Passive static stretch


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: (1) being male; (2) age range between 18 and 35 years of age; (3) Body Mass Index (BMI) between 19 and 27; (4) be a soccer player with 4 to 5x weekly training; (5) not participating in lower limb stretching programs; (6) no history of injury, trauma, previous surgeries and lower limb disease in the last 6 months; (7) absence of musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory and neurological disorders that prevent the accomplishment of evaluation and treatment protocols; (8) not under the action of drugs that cause muscle relaxation or that may inhibit tonic muscle action (9) present a limitation of WMD (muscular shortening degree) with ischiatibial extensibility of less than 165 degrees of active extension of the knee with the hip Flexed at 90 °. Exclusion Criteria: (1) initiate stretching practice involving LLLs in daily activities outside the collection site during the study period; (2) not performing any of the evaluation and / or intervention procedures; (3) discontinuance in participating in the research.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

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: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Control Group<br>The subjects of the CG will receive the same orientations of the other groups in relation to the importance of the routines of stretching activities, but during the study period, they will not be able to perform stretches during their day to day life. | |
| Experimental: Experimental Group 1<br>The experimental group 1 will have the sensation of SENSATION SENSING WITHOUT DESCONFORT as an intensity for the application of the passive stretch protocol. | Other: Passive static stretch<br>* Each experimental group will be submitted to 10 (ten) sessions, with three (3) weekly sessions of static passive stretching, with a 48 h interval between them. Each session will be performed 3 (three) maneuvers containing a duration of 30 seconds, this being the same rest time, performed in all experimental groups.<br>|
| Experimental: Experimental Group 2<br>The GE2 will have the feeling of MAXIMUM DISORDER WITHOUT PAIN as the as an intensity for the application of the passive stretch protocol. | Other: Passive static stretch<br>* Each experimental group will be submitted to 10 (ten) sessions, with three (3) weekly sessions of static passive stretching, with a 48 h interval between them. Each session will be performed 3 (three) maneuvers containing a duration of 30 seconds, this being the same rest time, performed in all experimental groups.<br>|
| Experimental: Experimental Group 3<br>GE3 will have the sensation of MAXIMUM TOLERABLE PAIN as the as an intensity for the application of the passive stretch protocol. | Other: Passive static stretch<br>* Each experimental group will be submitted to 10 (ten) sessions, with three (3) weekly sessions of static passive stretching, with a 48 h interval between them. Each session will be performed 3 (three) maneuvers containing a duration of 30 seconds, this being the same rest time, performed in all experimental groups.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Range of motion (ROM) | The measurement will be performed in two positions: with hip flexed at 90 ° and with extended leg elevation, using goniometry for measurement. | 48 h after intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pleasure after stretching program | Each volunteer will be asked shortly after each session what was the pleasure felt in achieving the sensation of stretching, which is indicated by the feeling scale. | 1 minute after intervention | 
| Pain after stretching session | Measurement from the visual analogue scale of 100 mm. | 1 minute after intervention | 
| Functional performance | Evaluation of functional performance with measures of vertical jump and shuttle run | 48 h after intervention | 
| Electromyographic responses of the hamstring | Electromyographic responses of the hamstring muscles in performing knee extension and hip flexion | 48 h after intervention | 
| Passive torque | Isokinetic performance evaluation | 48 h after intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Stretching, Stretching sensation, Isokinetic dynamometry, Stretching load.