Evaluation of Passive Stretching in the Hamstrings Flexibility

Question: Does passive stretching before and after strength training effect the flexibility of the hamstrings in people who work out?

Design: Intervention study in humans

Participants: 40 healthy student volunteers, ranging in age from 18 to 35 years old, who work out.

Intervention: The Wells bench was used to assess the flexibility of the hamstring muscle. In this test, a person sits on a mat, with the soles of both feet maintaining contact with a box. The top of the box has an indicator marked in centimeters that is used to measure flexibility by how far the person can push the indicator without bending the legs. The knees of the seated person are extended while the hips are flexed. The subject is then asked to take a deep breath, and during exhalation, flex the trunk forward with the upper limbs extended.

The upper limbs are supported by a bench of 23 cm long aligned with a tape measure over the bench. During flexion of the trunk, the right hand is placed over the left and the tips of the fingers touch the indicator on top, and move it forward as far as possible.

• Passive stretching (Other): Passive stretching of the hamstrings was performed only once, lasting 30 seconds, and initiated on the right leg. Participants were in supine position with head, trunk and arms aligned along the body. The researcher remained ipsilateral to the subject´s leg being stretched and applied external force to the limit tolerated by the participant. The researcher performed a hip flexion, knee extension, and dorsiflexion of the ankle while the opposite leg remained extended on the ground.

Primary outcomes

• hamstrings flexibility [30 seconds of maintenance]: After evaluation, the participants were randomly divided into four groups: A, B, C and D. Group A. stretched before and after workout ; group B stretched only before workout; group C stretched only after workout; and group D did not stretch at all. Passive stretching of the hamstrings was performed only once, lasting 30 seconds, and initiated on the right leg. Participants were in supine position with head, trunk and arms aligned along the body. The researcher remained ipsilateral to the subject´s leg being stretched and applied external force to the limit tolerated by the participant. The researcher performed a hip flexion, knee extension, and dorsiflexion of the ankle while the opposite leg remained extended on the ground.

Sex: All, ages: 18 Years to 35 Years, accepts healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

* The healthy students volunteers who worked out at the gym between 1-15 months of activities and ranging in age from 18 to 35 years

Exclusion Criteria:

* Volunteers who had history of chronic disease diagnosed and /or musculoskeletal injury.

• Ana Paula V Abdon, PhD, Study director, University of Fortaleza - UNIFOR