scholarly journals Effects of short duration static stretching on jump performance, maximum voluntary contraction, and various mechanical and morphological parameters of the muscle–tendon unit of the lower extremities

2014 ◽  
Vol 115 (3) ◽  
pp. 607-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Savvas Stafilidis ◽  
Markus Tilp
Keyword(s):  
Short Duration ◽  
Maximum Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Lower Extremities ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Morphological Parameters ◽  
Static Stretching ◽  
Jump Performance

scholarly journals The Neuromuscular Determinants of Unilateral Jump Performance in Soccer Players Are Direction-Specific

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 604-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conall F. Murtagh ◽  
Christopher Nulty ◽  
Jos Vanrenterghem ◽  
Andrew O’Boyle ◽  
Ryland Morgans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Maximum Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Muscle Size ◽  
Fascicle Length ◽  
Jump Performance ◽  
Isometric Maximum Voluntary Contraction

Purpose: To investigate differences in neuromuscular factors between elite and nonelite players and to establish which factors underpin direction-specific unilateral jump performance. Methods: Elite (n = 23; age, 18.1 [1.0] y; body mass index, 23.1 [1.8] kg·m−2) and nonelite (n = 20; age, 22.3 [2.7] y; body mass index, 23.8 [1.8] kg·m−2) soccer players performed 3 unilateral countermovement jumps (CMJs) on a force platform in the vertical, horizontal-forward, and medial directions. Knee extension isometric maximum voluntary contraction torque was assessed using isokinetic dynamometry. Vastus lateralis fascicle length, angle of pennation, quadriceps femoris muscle volume (Mvol), and physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA) were assessed using ultrasonography. Vastus lateralis activation was assessed using electromyography. Results: Elite soccer players presented greater knee extensor isometric maximum voluntary contraction torque (365.7 [66.6] vs 320.1 [62.6] N·m; P = .045), Mvol (2853 [508] vs 2429 [232] cm3; P = .001), and PCSA (227 [42] vs 193 [25] cm2; P = .003) than nonelite. In both cohorts, unilateral vertical and unilateral medial CMJ performance correlated with Mvol and PCSA (r ≥ .310, P ≤ .043). In elite soccer players, unilateral vertical and unilateral medial CMJ performance correlated with upward phase vastus lateralis activation and angle of pennation (r ≥ .478, P ≤ .028). Unilateral horizontal-forward CMJ peak vertical power did not correlate with any measure of muscle size or activation but correlated inversely with angle of pennation (r = −.413, P = .037). Conclusions: While larger and stronger quadriceps differentiated elite from nonelite players, relationships between neuromuscular factors and unilateral jump performance were shown to be direction-specific. These findings support a notion that improving direction-specific muscular power in soccer requires improving a distinct neuromuscular profile.

scholarly journals Passive stretching decreases muscle efficiency in balance tasks

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0256656
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Coratella ◽  
Stefano Longo ◽  
Susanna Rampichini ◽  
Christian Doria ◽  
Marta Borrelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Maximum Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Knee Extensor ◽  
Biceps Femoris ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Static Stretching ◽  
Balance Tests ◽  
Flexion Extension

The current study aimed to verify whether or not passive static stretching affects balance control capacity. Thirty-eight participants (19 women and 19 men) underwent a passive static stretching session, involving the knee extensor/flexor and dorsi/plantarflexor muscles, and a control session (no stretching, CTRL). Before (PRE), immediately after (POST), after 15 (POST15) and 30 min (POST30) from stretching (or rest in CTRL), balance control was evaluated under static and dynamic conditions, with open/closed eyes, and with/without somatosensory perturbation (foam under the feet). During tests, centre of pressure (CoP) sway area and perimeter and antero-posterior and medio-lateral sway mean speed were computed. Surface electromyography root mean square (sEMG RMS) was calculated from the vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, gastrocnemius medialis, and tibialis anterior muscles during MVC and during the balance tests. Hip flexion/extension and dorsi/plantarflexion range of motion (ROM), maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and sEMG RMS during MVC were measured at the same time points. After stretching, ROM increased (≈6.5%; P<0.05), while MVC and sEMG RMS decreased (≈9% and ≈7.5%, respectively; P<0.05). Regardless of the testing condition, CoP sway area and the perimeter remained similar, while antero-posterior and medio-lateral sway mean speed decreased by ≈8% and ≈12%, respectively (P<0.05). sEMG RMS during the balance tests increased in all muscles in POST (≈7%, P<0.05). All variables recovered in POST30. No changes occurred in CTRL. Passive static stretching did not affect the overall balance control ability. However, greater muscle activation was required to maintain similar CoP sway, thus suggesting a decrease in muscle efficiency.

scholarly journals The effects of short-duration static stretching of the lower extremities after warm-up exercise on endurance running performance

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuki Takizawa ◽  
Taichi Yamaguchi ◽  
Keisuke Shibata
Keyword(s):  
Short Duration ◽  
Lower Extremities ◽  
Running Economy ◽  
Time To Exhaustion ◽  
Static Stretching ◽  
Endurance Running ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Running Performance ◽  
Warm Up ◽  
Endurance Running Performance

<p>Previous studies have concluded that static stretching impairs running economy and endurance running performance. However these studies examined long durations (90-120 seconds for one muscle) of static stretching. Another study reported that most athletes perform static stretching of each muscle for less than 20 seconds in their warm-up. The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of 20-second static stretches of the lower extremities after 15 minutes warm-up on endurance running performance. Seven healthy well-trained middle or long distance male runners (age 21.3 ± 2.1 years; height 170.3 ± 3.1 centimeters; weight 60.0 ± 5.5 kilograms) took part in the present study. Each subject ran on a treadmill at 90% VO<sub>2</sub>max until exhaustion after one of two warm-up procedures. The two warm-up procedures were 15 minutes running at 70% VO<sub>2</sub>max (Warm-up) and 15 minutes running at 70% VO<sub>2</sub>max plus five static stretches of the lower extremities (Warm-up + static stretching). The running performance was evaluated by time to exhaustion. In the results, there were no significant differences in time to exhaustion among the warm-up exercises (Warm-up: 819.3 ± 230.6 sec., Warm-up + static stretching 817.9 ± 213.7 sec.). These results suggested that endurance running performance was not affected by the presence or absence of 20-second static stretches and there may be no need to avoid static stretches before endurance running if the duration is not too long.</p>

scholarly journals Influence of static stretching on viscoelastic properties of human tendon structures in vivo

2001 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 520-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keitaro Kubo ◽  
Hiroaki Kanehisa ◽  
Yasuo Kawakami ◽  
Tetsuo Fukunaga
Keyword(s):  
Viscoelastic Properties ◽  
Plantar Flexion ◽  
Maximum Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Medial Gastrocnemius ◽  
Static Stretching ◽  
Tendon Elongation ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Human Tendon

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of static stretching on the viscoelastic properties of human tendon structures in vivo. Seven male subjects performed static stretching in which the ankle was passively flexed to 35° of dorsiflexion and remained stationary for 10 min. Before and after the stretching, the elongation of the tendon and aponeurosis of medial gastrocnemius muscle (MG) was directly measured by ultrasonography while the subjects performed ramp isometric plantar flexion up to the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), followed by a ramp relaxation. The relationship between the estimated muscle force (Fm) of MG and tendon elongation ( L) during the ascending phase was fitted to a linear regression, the slope of which was defined as stiffness of the tendon structures. The percentage of the area within the Fm- L loop to the area beneath the curve during the ascending phase was calculated as an index representing hysteresis. Stretching produced no significant change in MVC but significantly decreased stiffness and hysteresis from 22.9 ± 5.8 to 20.6 ± 4.6 N/mm and from 20.6 ± 8.8 to 13.5 ± 7.6%, respectively. The present results suggest that stretching decreased the viscosity of tendon structures but increased the elasticity.

Short duration static stretching preceded by cycling warm-up reduces vertical jump performance in healthy males

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarissa M. Brusco ◽  
Marcelo G. Pompermayer ◽  
Bruna W. Esnaola ◽  
Claudia S. Lima ◽  
Ronei S. Pinto
Keyword(s):  
Short Duration ◽  
Vertical Jump ◽  
Static Stretching ◽  
Jump Performance ◽  
Warm Up ◽  
Healthy Males

scholarly journals Joint Flexibility and Isometric Strength Parameters Are Not Relevant Determinants for Countermovement Jump Performance

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2510
Author(s):  
Andreas Konrad ◽  
Marina Maren Reiner ◽  
Daniel Bernsteiner ◽  
Christoph Glashüttner ◽  
Sigrid Thaller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Range Of Motion ◽  
Maximum Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Knee Extensor ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Knee Extensors ◽  
Plantar Flexors ◽  
Countermovement Jump ◽  
Jump Performance ◽  
Leg Muscles ◽  
Knee Flexors

Vertical jumps are of great importance as a performance predictor for many types of sports that require speed and agility. However, to date, it is not clear if flexibility and/or the strength of the different leg muscles are determinants for countermovement jump (CMJ) performance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to relate isometric maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) torque and the flexibility of various muscle groups of the lower body with CMJ performance. Thirty-six healthy male volunteers participated in this study. The participants performed MVCs of the knee extensors, knee flexors, and plantar flexors on a dynamometer. Moreover, range of motion of the hip flexors and plantar flexors was assessed with 3D motion capture, and the range of motion of the knee flexors (hamstrings) was assessed with a Sit n’ Reach® box. CMJs were assessed with a force platform. The correlation analysis revealed a significant moderate correlation of CMJ height with the flexibility of the hip flexors (rP = −0.39) and plantar flexors (rP = 0.47), but not the knee flexors. Moreover, we found that absolute MVC values are not related to CMJ height. However, we did find that knee extensor MVC relative to body mass is significantly related to CMJ height (rP = 0.33) with a moderate magnitude. Although we found significant correlations, the magnitudes of correlations vary between trivial and large according to a 90% confidence interval. Thus, this indicates that range of motion or strength of the assessed leg muscles can explain CMJ performance only to a limited extent.

scholarly journals The acute time course of muscle and tendon tissue changes following one minute of static stretching

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Konrad ◽  
Markus Tilp
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Structural Parameters ◽  
Control Period ◽  
Maximum Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Medial Gastrocnemius ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Static Stretching ◽  
Tendon Tissue ◽  
Length Changes

The purpose of this study was to investigate the time course of the changes of various muscle and tendon mechanical properties and the function responses of the plantar flexor muscles following 1 min of static stretching.Twenty-five healthy volunteers were assigned into a static stretching group or a control group. The static stretching group was tested with three different rest times (0 min,20 min,40 min) after 2x30s of stretching. Controls were tested before and after a control period (10 min) without stretching. Dorsiflexion range of motion (RoM), passive resistive torque (PRT), and maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) were measured with a dynamometer. Ultrasonography of the medial gastrocnemius (GM) muscle-tendon junction (MTJ) displacement allowed us to determine the length changes in the tendon and muscle, respectively, and hence to calculate their stiffness.Following the stretching, we observed a significant increase in RoM directly following the stretching, 20 min post-stretching, and 40 min post-stretching. However, no changes were found in other functional parameters (PRT, MVC) or structural parameters (muscle and tendon stiffness). No changes were detected in any variable in the control group.We conclude that a static stretching exercise of 2x30s increases the RoM for at least 40 min. However, this gain in RoM is not accompanied with more compliant muscle and/or tendon tissue, suggesting that 60s of static stretching might not be stimulus enough to induce changes in the muscle-tendon structure. Hence, we speculate that other factors, such as increased stretch tolerance, might be responsible for the changes in the RoM observed in the present study.

scholarly journals Development of a trunk motor paradigm for use in neuroimaging

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-200
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Saunders ◽  
Brian C. Clark ◽  
Leatha A. Clark ◽  
Dustin R. Grooms
Keyword(s):  
Motor Control ◽  
Maximum Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Head Motion ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Cyclic Contraction ◽  
Cyclic Contractions ◽  
Measurement Units ◽  
Healthy Participants

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to quantify head motion between isometric erector spinae (ES) contraction strategies, paradigms, and intensities in the development of a neuroimaging protocol for the study of neural activity associated with trunk motor control in individuals with low back pain. Ten healthy participants completed two contraction strategies; (1) a supine upper spine (US) press and (2) a supine lower extremity (LE) press. Each contraction strategy was performed at electromyographic (EMG) contraction intensities of 30, 40, 50, and 60% of an individually determined maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) (±10% range for each respective intensity) with real-time, EMG biofeedback. A cyclic contraction paradigm was performed at 30% of MVC with US and LE contraction strategies. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) quantified head motion to determine the viability of each paradigm for neuroimaging. US vs LE hold contractions induced no differences in head motion. Hold contractions elicited significantly less head motion relative to cyclic contractions. Contraction intensity increased head motion in a linear fashion with 30% MVC having the least head motion and 60% the highest. The LE hold contraction strategy, below 50% MVC, was found to be the most viable trunk motor control neuroimaging paradigm.

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