Jpk. Halbertsma et al., Repeated passive stretching: Acute effect on the passive muscle moment andextensibility of short hamstrings, ARCH PHYS M, 80(4), 1999, pp. 407-414
Objective: To examine the response of short hamstring muscles to repeated p
assive stretching.
Design: A repeated measures design.
Setting: A university laboratory for human movement analysis in a departmen
t of rehabilitation. Subjects: Students (7 men, 10 women) from the Departme
nt of Human Movement Sciences.
Main Outcome Measures: The lift force, range of motion, pelvic-femoral angl
e, first sensation of pain, and electromyogram of the hamstrings were measu
red.
Results: Comparison of the data of the test group (n = 17) after five succe
ssive passive stretch tests by means of an instrumental straight-leg raisin
g test showed no significant change of the variables passive muscle stiffne
ss and extensibility (P >.05).
Conclusion: The acute effect of repeated passive stretching of short hamstr
ing muscles is negligible. With an instrumental straight-leg raising test,
the relevant muscle variables can be examined noninvasively.
(C) 1999 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the Americ
an Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.