Purpose: Verify the acute responses of static stretching (SS) on the rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), and vastus lateralis (VL) elasticity and knee/hip range of motion (ROM). Additionally, to investigate if there are consistency among quadriceps muscle elasticity after SS.
Methods: Acute effect of SS on pre-post-intervention design. Thirtheen healthy participants (both genders) proposed for a pre-post experimental design. RF, VM, and VL elasticity (strain ratio, SR) was evaluated bilaterally by ultrasound with quasi-static elastography. Higher SR values refer to more rigid tissues. A SS protocol of 3 series of 30 s was applied at right lower limb. The left lower limb was considered as control group. Also, photogrammetry evaluated the knee/hip ROM.
Results: For SR muscle comparisons, VM was lower (less stiff) than VL and RF at pre- and post-SS. For time comparisons, no differences were observed for SR and ROM at pre- and post-SS. However, the effect size of the quadriceps SR at SS lower limb was higher than control.
Conclusion: Acute effects of SS did not change the quadriceps SR or knee/hip ROM in healthy and active subjects. Non-uniform quadriceps SR are observed (VM < VL and RF) independently of SS. Future studies should consider different protocols, muscles, and populations.
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9705688 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40477-021-00649-w | DOI Listing |
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