Effects of low-intensity and short-duration isometric contraction after static stretching on range of motion, passive stiffness, and isometric muscle force

Context: Hamstring injuries are common, and lack of hamstring flexibility may predispose to injury. Static stretching not only increases range of motion (ROM) but also results in reduced muscle strength after stretching. The effects of stretching on the hamstring muscles and the duration of these effects remain unclear. Objective: To determine the effects of static stretching on the hamstrings and the duration of these effects. Design: Randomized crossover study. Setting: University laboratory. Participants: A total of 24 healthy volunteers. Interventions: The torque–angle relationship (ROM, passive torque [PT] at the onset of pain, and passive stiffness) and isometric muscle force using an isokinetic dynamometer were measured. After a 60-minute rest, the ROM of the dynamometer was set at the maximum tolerable intensity; this position was maintained for 300 seconds, while static PT was measured continuously. The torque–angle relationship and isometric muscle force after rest periods of 10, 20, and 30 minutes were remeasured. Main Outcome Measures: Change in static PT during stretching and changes in ROM, PT at the onset of pain, passive stiffness, and isometric muscle force before stretching were compared with 10, 20, and 30 minutes after stretching. Results: Static PT decreased significantly during stretching. Passive stiffness decreased significantly 10 and 20 minutes after stretching, but there was no significant prestretching versus poststretching difference after 30 minutes. PT at the onset of pain and ROM increased significantly after stretching at all rest intervals, while isometric muscle force decreased significantly after all rest intervals. Conclusions: The effect of static stretching on passive stiffness of the hamstrings was not maintained as long as the changes in ROM, stretch tolerance, and isometric muscle force. Therefore, frequent stretching is necessary to improve the viscoelasticity of the muscle–tendon unit. Muscle force decreased for 30 minutes after stretching; this should be considered prior to activities requiring maximal muscle strength.

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Effects of Static Stretching With High-Intensity and Short-Duration or Low-Intensity and Long-Duration on Range of Motion and Muscle Stiffness

Frontiers in Physiology ◽

10.3389/fphys.2020.601912 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Taizan Fukaya ◽

Ryosuke Kiyono ◽

Shigeru Sato ◽

Kaoru Yahata ◽

Koki Yasaka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Elastic Modulus ◽

Range Of Motion ◽

Short Duration ◽

High Intensity ◽

Muscle Stiffness ◽

Static Stretching ◽

Low Intensity ◽

Shear Elastic Modulus ◽

Passive Torque ◽

Long Duration

This study investigated the effects of static stretching (SS) delivered with the same load but using two protocols – high-intensity and short-duration and low-intensity and long-duration – on range of motion (ROM) and muscle stiffness. A total of 18 healthy students participated in the study. They randomly performed high-intensity and short-duration (120% and 100 s) or low-intensity and long-duration (50% and 240 s) SS. Outcomes were assessed on ROM, passive torque at dorsiflexion ROM, and shear elastic modulus of the medial gastrocnemius before and after static stretching. The results showed that ROM increased significantly at post-stretching compared to that at pre-stretching in both high-intensity and short-duration [+6.1° ± 4.6° (Δ25.7 ± 19.9%)] and low-intensity and long-duration [+3.6° ± 2.3° (Δ16.0 ± 11.8%)]. Also, the ROM was significantly higher at post-stretching in high-intensity and short-duration conditions than that in low-intensity and long-duration. The passive torque at dorsiflexion ROM was significantly increased in both high-intensity and short-duration [+5.8 ± 12.8 Nm (Δ22.9 ± 40.5%)] and low-intensity and long-duration [+2.1 ± 3.4 Nm (Δ6.9 ± 10.8%)] conditions, but no significant differences were observed between both conditions. The shear elastic modulus was significantly decreased in both high-intensity and short-duration [−8.8 ± 6.1 kPa (Δ − 38.8 ± 14.5%)] and low-intensity and long-duration [−8.0 ± 12.8 kPa (Δ − 22.2 ± 33.8%)] conditions. Moreover, the relative change in shear elastic modulus in the high-intensity and short-duration SS was significantly greater than that in low-intensity and long-duration SS. Our results suggest that a higher intensity of the static stretching should be conducted to increase ROM and decrease muscle stiffness, even for a short time.

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Changes in Flexibility and Force are not Different after Static Versus Dynamic Stretching

Sports Medicine International Open ◽

10.1055/a-1001-1993 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 03 (03) ◽

pp. E89-E95 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Shingo Matsuo ◽

Masahiro Iwata ◽

Manabu Miyazaki ◽

Taizan Fukaya ◽

Eiji Yamanaka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Knee Flexion ◽

Muscle Force ◽

Random Order ◽

Knee Extension ◽

Passive Stiffness ◽

Dynamic Stretching ◽

The Right ◽

Flexion Force ◽

Isometric Muscle ◽

Isometric Muscle Force

AbstractIn this study, we examined the effects of static and dynamic stretching on range of motion (ROM), passive torque (PT) at pain onset, passive stiffness, and isometric muscle force. We conducted a randomized crossover trial in which 16 healthy young men performed a total of 300 s of active static or dynamic stretching of the right knee flexors on two separate days in random order. To assess the effects of stretching, we measured the ROM, PT at pain onset, passive stiffness during passive knee extension, and maximum voluntary isometric knee flexion force using an isokinetic dynamometer immediately before and after stretching. Both static and dynamic stretching significantly increased the ROM and PT at pain onset (p<0.01) and significantly decreased the passive stiffness and isometric knee flexion force immediately after stretching (p<0.01). However, the magnitude of change did not differ between the two stretching methods for any measurements. Our results suggest that 300 s of either static or dynamic stretching can increase flexibility and decrease isometric muscle force; however, the effects of stretching do not appear to differ between the two stretching methods.

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Acute Effects of the Different Intensity of Static Stretching on Flexibility and Isometric Muscle Force

The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research ◽

10.1519/jsc.0000000000001752 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 31 (12) ◽

pp. 3403-3410 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Satoshi Kataura ◽

Shigeyuki Suzuki ◽

Shingo Matsuo ◽

Genki Hatano ◽

Masahiro Iwata ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Muscle Force ◽

Static Stretching ◽

Acute Effects ◽

Isometric Muscle ◽

Isometric Muscle Force

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Influence of stress relaxation and load during static stretching on the range of motion and muscle–tendon passive stiffness

Sport Sciences for Health ◽

10.1007/s11332-021-00759-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Taizan Fukaya ◽

Masatoshi Nakamura ◽

Shigeru Sato ◽

Ryosuke Kiyono ◽

Kaoru Yahata ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stress Relaxation ◽

Range Of Motion ◽

Static Stretching ◽

Passive Stiffness

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Experimental Analysis of Electromyography (EMG) Signal for Evaluation of Isometric Muscle Force

Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering - Design and Modeling of Mechanical Systems - IV ◽

10.1007/978-3-030-27146-6_20 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 183-192

Author(s):

Olfa Jemaa ◽

Sami Bennour ◽

David Daney ◽

Lotfi Romdhane

Keyword(s):

Experimental Analysis ◽

Muscle Force ◽

Emg Signal ◽

Isometric Muscle ◽

Isometric Muscle Force

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The relative contribution of motor unit recruitment and rate coding to the production of static isometric muscle force

Biological Cybernetics ◽

10.1007/bf00357706 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 21-25 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

H. Hatze

Keyword(s):

Motor Unit ◽

Muscle Force ◽

Motor Unit Recruitment ◽

Relative Contribution ◽

Rate Coding ◽

Isometric Muscle ◽

Isometric Muscle Force

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Contractile force of canine airway smooth muscle during cyclical length changes

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/jappl.1983.55.3.759 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 55 (3) ◽

pp. 759-769 ◽

Cited By ~ 96

Author(s):

S. J. Gunst

Keyword(s):

Muscle Force ◽

Isometric Force ◽

Smooth Muscles ◽

Rate Of Change ◽

Dynamic Force ◽

Airway Caliber ◽

Length Changes ◽

Isometric Muscle ◽

Isometric Muscle Force

Strips of tonically contracted canine tracheal and bronchial airway smooth muscles (AWSM) were studied in vitro to compare dynamic muscle force during stretch-retraction cycles with static isometric muscle force at various length points within the cycling range. At any particular rate, a characteristic force-length loop was obtained by cycling over a given range of lengths. Dynamic muscle force dropped well below static isometric muscle force at lengths short of the peak length at all rates of cycling. When stretch or retraction of the muscle was stopped at any point along either path of the cycle, muscle force rose to approach the isometric force at that length. Dynamic force at the peak length of the cycle remained close to, or slightly greater than, the static isometric force. The results suggest that the velocity of shortening of tonically contracted AWSM is very slow relative to the rates of cycling employed. A slow rate of shortening of AWSM relative to the rate of change in airway caliber during breathing could account for well-known effects of volume history on airway tone.

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