Abstract
This study aimed to provide an interaction time among pediatric caregivers performing group stretching activities, and to verify the effectiveness of a stretching session to improve flexibility. Caregivers of the pediatric ward of a university hospital participated in a group activity, with 17 static postures of self-stretching techniques, held each position for 30 seconds. Muscle flexibility was assessed before and after the stretching session, using the Bank of Wells, capable of measuring the flexibility of the posterior muscle chain. After a single series of global stretching, the elongation of the posterior muscle chain of the subjects significantly increased, with a gain of 18.05%. Furthermore, participants reported reduction in muscle pain and greater willingness to perform the tasks throughout the day, with a moment of leisure to help them cope with the situation they were in. Therefore, the program of stretching activities for hospital caregivers improved the flexibility in only one session, and represents an important intervention for the promotion of welfare and physical interaction between caregivers and staff, since it is one more possibility for physical therapists to work within the hospital context.
Highlights
The Statute of Children and Adolescents established by Law 8069 provides, through Art. 12, that hospitals should give conditions for full-time permanence of a parent or guardian, in cases of child or adolescent hospitalization (BRASIL, 2002)
There was a significant increase in flexibility of the posterior muscle group of subjects after a single series of global stretching (p = 0.001)
In the present study, there was a special attention on flexibility of pediatric caregivers admitted to a ward in a University Hospital
Summary
The Statute of Children and Adolescents established by Law 8069 provides, through Art. 12, that hospitals should give conditions for full-time permanence of a parent or guardian, in cases of child or adolescent hospitalization (BRASIL, 2002). One of the factors that hinder the permanence in hospital is the precariousness of infrastructure to welcome escorts, who cannot sleep/rest in the hospital environment (SIQUEIRA et al, 2002). Escorts are usually accommodated in seats or chairs; in this way, it is frequent the appearance of musculoskeletal pain, especially lumbar back pain. Sitting for long periods can lead to loss of abdominal muscle strength and a tendency to misalignment of spine vertebrae (GALDINO; SOARES, 2001). Low back pain can be predisposed by limited flexibility of the hip and lumbar spine and can restrict the performance of individual tasks (PINHEIRO; GOES, 2010)
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