Effect of Acute Static Stretching on Lower Limb Movement Performance Using STABL Virtual Reality System.

Context: The effect of acute static stretching (ASS) on the lower limb reaction time (RT) has been recently questioned to decrease the risk of falling and injuries in situations requiring a rapid reaction, as in the cases of balance disturbance.

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to detect the effect of ASS on the lower limb RT using a virtual reality device.

Design: Two-group control group design.

Setting: Research laboratory.

Participants: The control and experimental groups were formed randomly from 60 female university students.

Intervention: Each participant in the experimental group was tested before and after ASS for the quadriceps, hamstrings, and planter flexor muscles, and compared with the control group with warming-up exercise alone. The stretching program involved warming up in the form of circular running inside the lab for 5 minutes followed by stretching of each muscle group three times, to the limit of discomfort of 45 seconds, with resting period of 15 seconds between stretches.

Main Outcome Measures: The measurements included the RT of the dominant lower-extremity using the dynamic stability program STABL Virtual Reality System (model no. DIZ 2709; Motekforce Link).

Results: There was a statistically significant reduction (F = 162, P < .05) in posttest RT between the 2 groups and significant decrease in RT after stretching in the experimental group (7.5%; P < .05).

Conclusion: ASS of the lower limb muscles tends to decrease the lower limb RT and improve movement performance.