TITLE: Effect of lenght of stretching on the strength and flexibility of kickboxers AUTHOR: Bc. Alexandra Nižníková DEPARTMENT: Department of physical education SUPERVISOR: Mgr. Lucie Kainová ABSTRACT: The main aim of the diploma thesis was to examine the effect of lenght of stretching on strength ability, and flexibility of kickboxers. The research lasted 12 weeks and was conducted in two research groups. People in the 19-40 age range did kick-boxing three times a week. The experimental group consisted of 25 kick-boxers who did 15 minutes stretching before and 30 minutes stretching after the training. The control group also consisted of 25 kick-boxers, but they did stretching only for 5 minutes before and after the training. In the research we used our own stretching program, that was applied before and after the training. Based on the results, we noticed an improvement in the experimental group in all tests. The control group showed an improvement in strength tests, but on the contrary, we noticed a deterioration in the flexibility tests. KEYWORDS: Stretching, kickbox, flexibility, strength ability

The purposes of these studies were to determine if an acute static stretch influenced isokinetic peak torque (IPT), and to examine if the order in which the warm up routine was performed affected peak knee extension torque. Twenty trained college male students performed maximal isokinetic knee extensions under four conditions: a control consisting of no stretching, a stretch only trial, jog then stretch, and stretch then jog conditions. Each stretch was held for a total volume of 360 s. Measurements were taken on a Biodex System 3 isokinetic dynamometer at speeds of 60º s-1 and 300º s-1. Data were analyzed using t-tests to compare the stretch condition with the control. The results indicated that there was a significant difference between the stretch and the control at 300 º s-1 (p = 0.03 t = 2.42) but not at 60 º s-1 (p = 0.16). A 2 x 3 ANOVA (300 º s-1 x 60 º s-1, and control x stretch then jog x jog then stretch) yielded no significance at either speed (p > 0.05). Conclusions from this study indicate that stretching should not be the sole exercise in a warm-up routine as previous research confirms the decrease in IPT after stretching. Another finding of this study is that the negative effects of stretching can be diminished when combined with an aerobic activity such as jogging prior to performance. Further research is needed to determine the underlying factors that contribute to the post stretch decrease in IPT and the factors that lead to the restoration of force after aerobic activity. Caution is advised since these were controlled tests in a laboratory and results may vary with actual performance.

A great deal of research has shown decrements in force and power following static stretching. There has been little research investigating the acute effects of static stretching of the antagonist on the expression of strength and power. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of static stretching of the antagonist muscles on a variety of strength and power measures. Sixteen active males were tested for vertical jump height and isokinetic torque production in a slow knee extension (KES) at 60°/s and a fast knee extension (KEF) at 300°/s. Electromyography was taken during knee extension tests for the vastus lateralis and the biceps femoris muscles. Participants performed these tests in a randomized counterbalanced order with and without prior antagonist stretching. All variables for stretching and non-stretching treatments were compared using paired t tests at an alpha of .05. Paired samples t tests revealed a significant (p = .034) difference between stretch KEF and non-stretch KEF conditions. There was no significant (p > .05) difference between KES stretch and non-stretch conditions. Vertical jump height was significantly (p = .011) higher for the stretching treatment than the non-stretching treatment. Vertical jump power was also significantly higher (p = .005) in the stretch versus the non-stretch condition. Paired samples t test indicated no significant (p > .05) difference between testing conditions for electromyography, represented as a percentage of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). These results suggest that stretching the antagonist hamstrings prior to high speed isokinetic knee extension increases torque production. It also demonstrated that stretching the hip flexors and dorsi flexors may enhance jump height and power. Practitioners may use this information to acutely enhance strength and power performances.

No description available.

Introduction: Very few studies have looked at the effect of vibration on flexibility, and no studies exist that have looked at stretching concurrently with whole body vibration (WBV) training. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if whole-body-vibration training (WBV) done concurrently with static stretch (SV) is more effective than static stretching alone (SS), and to see if WBV training independently (SQ) improves hamstring flexibility without stretching. A secondary purpose of this study is to determine if retention of flexibility gains are maintained. Methods: Forty-four subjects (31 men, 13 women) completed this study (age 22.5 ± 1.8 years; body mass 75.54 ± 13.18 kg; height 176.7 ± 8.06 kg). All subjects were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 groups: SV group (8 males, 3 females), SQ group (8 m, 4 f), SS group (8 m, 3 f), and the C group (7 m, 3 f). All subjects were measured bilaterally for hamstring flexibility using the lying passive knee extension test (LPKE) prior to group assignment. Subjects from each treatment group reported to lab 5 times per week for treatment. Subjects stood on the WBV platform for 5 repetitions of 30-seconds at with 30-seconds in between bouts. The SV group stretched hamstrings while standing on the WBV during the vibration bouts (at 26 Hz and 4 mm amplitude). The SS group did the same thing except the unit was not turned on. The SQ group stood on the WBV platform in a semi-squat position similar to most WBV training studies, without stretching, but with vibration. The C group stood on the WBV platform in a semi-squat without vibration. Analysis and Results: A mixed models analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used while blocking on subjects to analyze data using the statistical program SAS (version 9.1). A Bonferroni correction was used for significance on all post hoc tests (p<.0001). At baseline there were no significant differences between groups for flexibility (see Table 1), showing that each group was similar in flexibility to start. Throughout the treatment period (3 weeks of stretching) both the SS and SV groups had significant increases in flexibility compared to SQ and C. Analysis of the slopes (rate of change) for the treatment period was significantly different between the SV group and all other groups (p<.0001 for all comparisons), showing that the SV group had a greater rate of change than all other groups. For the retention period there was no significant difference between the SV and SS group (p=0.0455), but there was a significant difference between both the SV and SS groups and all other groups (p<.0001 for all comparisons). Conclusion: Stretching during WBV improves flexibility more than static stretching alone and at a faster rate. WBV on its own without stretching does not significantly improve hamstring flexibility.

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) is a common response to activities involving lengthening contractions. Muscle inflammation is associated with DOMS and may play an integral role in protecting a muscle from damage and soreness in response to subsequent bouts of lengthening contractions. Research in animals has shown that prior exposure to passive stretching and isometric contractions of a muscle resulting in muscle inflammation attenuates the muscle inflammatory response following subsequent bouts of lengthening contractions. The purpose of this study was to determine whether passive stretching and isometric contractions in humans would reduce DOMS following a typical bout of resistance exercise. METHODS: Thirty untrained male subjects were assigned to a control (C), stretching (S) or isometric (I) contraction group (n=10/group). In the week prior to the typical resistance training bout subjects in S and I were exposed to 3 separate sessions involving 5 minutes of passive stretching or maximal isometric contractions, respectively. Passive and active soreness, thigh girth, and relaxed knee angle were assessed prior to intervention and on days 1, 2, 4, and 8 following the bout of resistance exercise. RESULTS: Passive and active muscle soreness increased similarly in all groups. However, active soreness returned higher values than passive soreness at several time points following resistance exercise. Peak soreness occurred at 48h post exercise. Thigh girth and relaxed knee angle reached their highest values at 5 minutes following resistance exercise however there were no differences between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that a typical bout of resistance exercise is sufficient to cause measurable levels of DOMS in untrained subjects and that subjects are more sensitive to active measures of DOMS compared to a passive assessment. Nevertheless the passive stretching and isometric contraction interventions did nothing to reduce DOMS in the current subjects.

ABSTRACT Effect of Warm-Up Activity on Vertical Ground Reaction Forces in Basketball Players During Drop Jump Landings Jacob Hinkel-Lipsker Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of certain warm-up activities on vertical ground reaction forces (GRFv) during a drop jump landing. Methods: Eight women and twelve men (mean age 22.6 ± 1.82 years) completed three warm-up activities on three separate days in a counterbalanced order: a passive stretching warm-up, a dynamic warm-up, and a no warm-up control. After completing each activity, participants were asked to perform eight drop jump landings on a force platform. GRFv data was sampled at 1000 Hz during each landing, and the variables analyzed were: peak forefoot and rearfoot magnitude, forefoot and rearfoot rate of loading, and impulse. Results: The dynamic warm-up had significantly greater values (p < 0.05) for forefoot peak magnitude, rearfoot peak magnitude, and forefoot rate of loading compared to the passive stretching and control conditions. Also, there were no significant differences among all activities for rearfoot rate of loading and impulse. Conclusions: The significantly greater values for forefoot peak magnitude, rearfoot peak magnitude, and forefoot rate of loading that the dynamic warm-up produced indicates that this activity may be effective in increasing muscular stiffness in the lower limbs. The failure of the passive stretching warm-up to reach significance indicates that this activity may not be effective in decreasing lower extremity muscular stiffness.

Bakgrund: Statisk stretching har visat sig ha en positiv effekt på rörlighet, styrka och spänst när stretching utförts med hög mängd och intensitet. Stretching under kortare perioder innehållande mindre mängd är inte lika välstuderat. Att undersöka effekten av en mindre mängd statisk stretching skulle kunna vara användbart för fysioterapeuter. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka vad unilateral statisk stretching av vadmuskulaturen har för effekter på maximal isometrisk styrka i plantarflexion, rörlighet i dorsalflexion och spänst. Metod: Fyra deltagare inkluderades och fick stretcha ett av sina ben över en tre veckors period i 10 minuter dagligen, benet valdes slumpmässigt. Före och efter interventionen mättes unilateral isometrisk styrka och rörlighet i deltagarnas vadmuskulatur samt spänst på ett ben. Resultat: Deltagarnas isometriska styrka minskade för interventionsbenet i medianvärde (-3,0%), medan kontrollbenets styrka ökade (6,9%). Spänsten för deltagarnas interventionsben ökade (5,9%) och kontrollbenets spänst minskade (-0,7%). En ökning i rörlighet kunde ses för interventionsbenet (21,2%) medan ingen ändring sågs för kontrollbenet (0%). Konklusion: Intensiv statisk av plantarflexorerna utförd över en treveckorsperiod gav en tydlig ökning av rörlighet i dorsalflexion medan inga tydliga effekter på styrka eller spänst kunde ses på gruppnivå. Fler studier inom området behövs där mängden, intensiteten och frekvensen av statisk stretching som krävs för att utveckla dessa kvaliteter utreds med fler och en större spridning av deltagare, för att få ett mer signifikant resultat.

This study sought to find the difference in pain sensitivity and psychological factors between men and women, and how an intervention such as stretching could generate effects of hypoalgesia. The primary aim of this study was to compare the difference in A-delta and C-fiber mediated thermal pain between sexes. The second aim was to compare pain-related psychological factors. Finally, the third aim was to compare changes in pressure pain threshold between men and women during the stretching intervention. Prior studies have already examined the relationship between stretching and conditioned pain modulation which was utilized towards this research. However, they have not included stretching to the point of pain, and conditioned pain modulation is often dependent on acquiring hypoalgesia through induction of pain. So, this study hypothesizes that stretching to the point of pain may induce effects of hypoalgesia in equal amount of higher than conditioned pain modulation. By conducting this research more information was acquired towards understanding the difference between sexes towards pain sensitivity and induction of hypoalgesia effects. Results of this study indicated that sex differences did not differ as much in response to the interventions, and psychological factors were deemed insignificant as well between sexes. However, looking at the responses of the total sample, after four minutes of stretching low intensity stretch was closely associated to hypoalgesia effects of the cold-water immersion in comparison to medium intensity stretch. In addition to that, inhibitory effects during cold-water immersion task displayed a significant association with higher heat pain threshold to the forearm and trapezius. As for psychological factors, in general, individuals with lower pain-anxiety had greater hypoalgesia effects to the cold-water immersion task.

Bakgrund: Manuella behandlingstekniker såsom stretching och ledmobilisering används inom veterinärmedicinsk fysisk rehabilitering av hund. Det råder inte konsensus angående vid vilka indikationer som mobilisering och manipulation kan användas med förväntad positiv effekt eller med vilken dosering. Det saknas också evidens för bland annat effekten av stretching av muskulatur på ledrörlighet och smärta hos hund med ospecificerade smärttillstånd i rörelseapparaten. Syfte: Syftet var att undersöka den akuta effekten av statisk stretching av m.iliopsoas och hamstrings på muskellängd, funktion och smärta hos hund med ospecificerad ländryggssmärta. Metod: Studien genomfördes som en Single-Case Experimental Design (SCED). De tre deltagande hundarna med av veterinär diagnostiserad ospecificerad ländryggssmärta rekryterades via författarens verksamhet. Deltagande hundägare utförde interventionen i form av statisk stretching under tre veckor. Datainsamlingen utfördes medelst mätningar av muskellängd två gånger per vecka under baslinje- och interventionsfas samt att hundägarna fick fylla i enkäten Canine Brief Pain Inventory – S (CBPI – S) en gång per vecka. Resultaten presenterades i diagramform och text.  Resultatsammanfattning: Hos en av tre deltagare uppmättes ökad muskellängd och för två av tre deltagare visade resultaten minskad skattad smärtintensitet och ökad skattad funktion. Slutsats: Statisk stretching som intervention för hundar med ospecificerad ländryggssmärta kan i den aktuella studien inte visa på entydig effekt vad gäller förändring av muskellängd, skattad smärtintensitet och skattad funktion. / Background: Manual therapies such as stretching and joint mobilization are used in veterinary physical rehabilitation of dogs. No consensus exists in which indication mobilization and manipulation can be used with expected positive effect or in what dosage. There is a lack of evidence regarding the effects of stretching of musculature on joint mobility and pain in dogs with unspecified pain conditions in the musculoskeletal system. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the acute effect of static stretching of m.iliopsoas and hamstrings on muscle length, function and pain in dogs with unspecified lower back pain.  Method: This study was conducted as a Single-Case Experimental Design (SCED). The three participating dogs, veterinary diagnosed with unspecified lower back pain, were recruited through the author’s business. The participating dog owners carried out the intervention consisting of static stretching during three weeks. The data collection was conducted by measuring muscle length twice a week during baseline and intervention phases and the participating dog owners filling in the questionnaire Canine Brief Pain Inventory – S (CBPI –S) once a week. The results were presented in diagrams and text. Results: Increased muscle length was measured in one out of three participants and two out of three participants showed reduced estimated pain intensity and increased estimated function. Conclusion: The current study showed no conclusive results regarding the effect of static stretching on muscle length, estimated pain intensity and estimated function in dogs with unspecified lower back pain.