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Effects of acute static, ballistic, and PNF stretching exercise on the muscle and tendon tissue properties
Author(s) -
Konrad A.,
Stafilidis S.,
Tilp M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/sms.12725
Subject(s) - static stretching , tendon , materials science , proprioception , range of motion , stiffness , muscle belly , biomedical engineering , anatomy , medicine , physical medicine and rehabilitation , physical therapy , composite material
The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of a single static, ballistic, or proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation ( PNF ) stretching exercise on the various muscle‐tendon parameters of the lower leg and to detect possible differences in the effects between the methods. Volunteers ( n = 122) were randomly divided into static, ballistic, and PNF stretching groups and a control group. Before and after the 4 × 30 s stretching intervention, we determined the maximum dorsiflexion range of motion (RoM) with the corresponding fascicle length and pennation angle of the gastrocnemius medialis. Passive resistive torque ( PRT ) and maximum voluntary contraction ( MVC ) were measured with a dynamometer. Observation of muscle‐tendon junction ( MTJ ) displacement with ultrasound allowed us to determine the length changes in the tendon and muscle, respectively, and hence to calculate stiffness. Although RoM increased (static: +4.3%, ballistic: +4.5%, PNF : +3.5%), PRT (static: −11.4%, ballistic: −11.5%, PNF : −13,7%), muscle stiffness (static: −13.1%, ballistic: −20.3%, PNF : −20.2%), and muscle‐tendon stiffness (static: −11.3%, ballistic: −10.5%, PNF : −13.7%) decreased significantly in all the stretching groups. Only in the PNF stretching group, the pennation angle in the stretched position (−4.2%) and plantar flexor MVC (−4.6%) decreased significantly. Multivariate analysis showed no clinically relevant difference between the stretching groups. The increase in RoM and the decrease in PRT and muscle‐tendon stiffness could be explained by more compliant muscle tissue following a single static, ballistic, or PNF stretching exercise.