Clinical trial NCT02428153: Effect Of Static And Dynamic Stretching On Muscle Tendon Unit
Official title: Investigation Of Muscle-Tendon Unit By Ultrasound After Static And Dynamic Stretching
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Healthy
Keywords: static stretching
dynamic stretching
muscle-tendon unit
ultrasound
Subjects
Lead sponsor: Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2015-04-28
Enrollment: 28
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 30
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: SCREENING

Brief summary: The purpose of this study is to investigate the acute effects of two different types of muscle stretching (static and dynamic) on muscle-tendon unit of gastrocnemius muscle by ultrasound and to follow how long the stretching effects are sustained.

Detailed description: Muscle stretching is a very common practice applied in warm-up process in order to enhance performance in sports and to prevent or decrease the risk of sports injury. Muscle stretching is also used for therapeutic purposes in many clinical conditions.

It is generally performed in either static or dynamic manner. Muscle is brought to its lengthened position and is held at that point for a certain period of time in static stretching (SS). In dynamic stretching (DS), however, active movements of muscle take the joint through the range of motion and creates a stretch, but the muscle is not held in the end position.

Although recent studies suggest that static stretching has adverse effects on performance, reduces maximal muscle force and is not successful in preventing non-contact injuries, as believed so; and the dynamic type therefore gaining popularity; it is reported that flexibility and range of motion can be improved by stretching as a consequence of the decrement in muscle stiffness. However, the effects of stretching depend on the type, duration and timing of stretching and there is still debate over which prescription provides the best results in terms of flexibility, power, performance or injury protection. And what happens to the viscoelastic properties of a muscle when it is stretched statically or dynamically is still not well documented. Ultrasound seems to be a good option as it offers an objective and a non-invasive way to expose the alteration in muscles and tendons due to stretching.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Healthy males,
* aged between 18-30 years

Exclusion Criteria:

* Cases with history of recent musculoskeletal injuries or neurological diseases.

Primary outcomes:
measure: muscle-tendon unit length
timeFrame: before stretching exercises and just after the stretching exercises and 5, 15 and 30 minutes after stretching
measure: pennation angle
timeFrame: before stretching exercises and just after the stretching exercises and 5, 15 and 30 minutes after stretching
measure: muscle thickness
timeFrame: before stretching exercises and just after the stretching exercises and 5, 15 and 30 minutes after stretching
Secondary outcomes:
measure: range of ankle dorsiflexion
timeFrame: before stretching exercises and just after the stretching exercises and 5, 15 and 30 minutes after stretching
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Tokat
country: Turkey
facility: Gaziosmanpasa University
Study officials:
affiliation: Gaziosmanpasa University
name: Funda DEMIRTURK, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: