The Effect of Static Stretching on Maximal Voluntary Contraction and Force-Time Curve Characteristics

Abstract

Objective:To examine the effect of static stretching on maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and isometric force-time curve characteristics of leg extensor muscles and EMG activity of rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), and gastrocnemius (GA).Design:A within subjects experimental design.Participants:Ten healthy students were tested after a jogging and a jogging/stretch protocol.Intervention:The stretching protocol involved a 10 min jog and seven static stretching exercises.Main Outcomes:Measurements included MVC, time achieved to MVC (TMVC), force at 100ms (F100), index of relative force (IRF), index of rate of force development (IRFD), and average integrated EMG activity (AEMG).Results:There were slight but no significant changes in MVC (1%), TMVC (4.8%), F100 (7.8%), IRF (1%), and IRFD (3.5%) between measurement. A significant difference (21%; P < 0.05) in AEMG of RF was found.Conclusions:The present study indicated that a moderate volume of static stretching did not alter significantly the MVC and the isometric force-time curve characteristics. Neural inhibition, as it is reflected from AEMG of RF, did not alter MVC and isometric force-time curve characteristics.