¿Es el estiramiento pasivo del cuádriceps igual de efectivo que el autoestiramiento en jugadores de fútbol? Ensayo clínico aleatorizado

Abstract

ObjectiveTo compare the effects of quadriceps passive stretching or quadriceps self-stretching in muscle flexibility and hip range of motion (ROM) in football athletes. MethodsA randomized clinical trial was carried out. Thirty-four football athletes with lack of flexibility in the quadriceps muscle were included and randomized in two groups (Stretching group or self-stretching group) and received a single session of quadriceps passive stretching or quadriceps self-stretching in the dominant lower limb. The outcome variables were: quadriceps flexibility measured with the Ely's test, hamstring flexibility measured with the Passive Knee Extension test and hip flexion and extension ROM. ResultsBoth groups achieved a statistically significant improvement of quadriceps flexibility, hamstrings flexibility and hip extension ROM without statistically significant differences between them (p>0.05). The stretching group reported large effect sizes in muscle flexibility and hip extension ROM (d>0.8), and the effect sizes of the stretching group were higher than the self-stretching group. ConclusionsFlexibility of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles as well as hip extension ROM increased after stretching and self-stretching of the quadriceps muscle. The effect sizes shown by the stretching group were higher than those of the self-stretching group.