Clinical trial NCT04453644: Effects of Stretching on Strength of Proximal and Distal Group of Muscles - A Comparative Study
Official title: Effects of Stretching on Strength of Proximal and Distal Group of Muscles - A Comparative Study
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: STRETCHING
Keywords: Muscle strength
muscle stretching exercises
strain gauge
Lead sponsor: King Saud University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2020-07-01
Enrollment: 28
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 22
Maximum age (years): 30
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: OTHER

Brief summary: Muscular flexibility is believed to prevent injuries and improve movement therefore most coaches include stretching exercises in their pre-competition and pre-exercise warm-up routines. One question arises here, should sports persons avoid stretching exercises prior to sporting events thereby exposing themselves to musculoskeletal injuries, or should they continue stretching exercises prior to sporting events and risk losing the maximal performance? The aim of this study is to compare the effects of 2, 4, and 8 min of static stretching (SS) on isometric maximum voluntary contraction (MVCF) force between proximal (Hamstrings) and distal group (Calf) of muscles.

Detailed description: OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of 2, 4, and 8 min of static stretching (SS) on isometric maximum voluntary contraction (MVCF) force between proximal (Hamstrings) and distal group (Calf) of muscles.

DESIGN: Two-group pretest-posttest experimental design. METHODS: Each subject visited the Rehabilitation center on three days: On day-I for static stretching for 2 minutes (SS2), day-II for 4 minutes (SS4), and day-III for 8 minutes (SS8). Isometric Maximum Voluntary Contraction Force (MVCF) measurement was done prior (Pre), 0-min, 10-min, and 20-min post-intervention (i.e. stretching). Each visit was separated by a gap of at least 3-4 days. On each visit, each subject underwent (a). Pre-intervention evaluation, (b). Intervention, (c). Post-intervention evaluation. Subjects performed stretching exercises under the supervision of expert Physical Therapist. The outcome assessor who was kept blind to study protocol did all measurements.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

For group A: subjects performed active knee extension test and those lacking at least 20 degrees of active knee extension range, with hip in 90 degree of flexion were selected. For group B (Calf): Subjects performed active foot dorsiflexion in long sitting position with back supported against the wall and those having not more than 20-degree range of motion were selected.

Selected subjects used to engage in 1-5 hours of regular physical activity per week (recreationally active) that does not involve stretching exercise

Exclusion Criteria:

Subjects reporting any current or ongoing neuromuscular disease, injury specific to lower limb joints, any apparent limit in knee or ankle ROM and competitive/professional athletes were excluded from study.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in isometric maximum voluntary contraction force before and after stretching
timeFrame: MVCF was measured immediately (0 min), 10-min and 20 min post intervention on 3 different days, with each day separated by gap of 3-4 days.
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Riyadh
country: Saudi Arabia
facility: King Saud University
Study officials:
References:
citation: Alghadir AH, Khan M, Quddus N, Chawla C. Effects of different stretch durations on the strength of the proximal and distal group of muscles - a randomized trial. Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 Oct 28;101(43):e31279. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000031279.