Abstract
A stretching intervention program is performed to maintain and improve range of motion (ROM) in sports and rehabilitation settings. However, there is no consensus on the effects of stretching programs on muscle stiffness, likely due to short stretching durations used in each session. Therefore, a longer stretching exercise session may be required to decrease muscle stiffness in the long-term. Moreover, until now, the retention effect (detraining) of such an intervention program is not clear yet. The purpose of this study was to investigate the training (5-week) and detraining effects (5-week) of a high-volume stretching intervention on ankle dorsiflexion ROM (DF ROM) and medial gastrocnemius muscle stiffness. Fifteen males participated in this study and the plantarflexors of the dominant limb were evaluated. Static stretching intervention was performed using a stretching board for 1,800 s at 2 days per week for 5 weeks. DF ROM was assessed, and muscle stiffness was calculated from passive torque and muscle elongation during passive dorsiflexion test. The results showed significant changes in DF ROM and muscle stiffness after the stretching intervention program, but the values returned to baseline after the detraining period. Our results indicate that high-volume stretching intervention (3,600 s per week) may be beneficial for DF ROM and muscle stiffness, but the training effects are dismissed after a detraining period with the same duration of the intervention.
Highlights
Joint flexibility, known as range of motion (ROM), and muscle stiffness could be contributors to movements of daily living and sports performance
On the static stretching (SS) side, the dorsiflexion ROM (DF ROM) and passive torque at DF ROM measurements at POST were significantly increased compared to PRE measurements (p < 0.05), whereas there were no significant differences between PRE and De-Tr or POST and De-Tr measurements
On SS side, the muscle stiffness value at POST was significantly decreased from the PRE value, and there were no significant differences between PRE and De-Tr or POST and De-Tr values
Summary
Known as range of motion (ROM), and muscle stiffness could be contributors to movements of daily living and sports performance. In light of the conflict literature, Freitas et al (2018) conducted a meta-analysis to verify the effects of stretching intervention programs and concluded that no statistical changes were observed for the muscle-tendon mechanical properties (including the muscle stiffness) after a chronic stretching intervention. Both the short duration of interventions and the low volumes of stretching performed per week may be responsible for not allowing sufficient stimuli for muscle adaptations. To date, based on the above observation, to what extent high stretching volumes can induce improvements in muscle mechanical properties is still unclear
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