Open AccessPassive stretching decreases muscle efficiency in balance tasks
Author(s) -
Giuseppe Coratella,
Stefano Longo,
Susanna Rampichini,
Christian Doria,
Marta Borrelli,
Eloisa Limonta,
G. Michielon,
Emiliano Cè,
Fabio Esposito
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0256656
Subject(s) - electromyography , biceps , vastus medialis , balance (ability) , medicine , physical medicine and rehabilitation , anatomy , range of motion , physical therapy
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 (POST 15 ) and 30 min (POST 30 ) 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 POST 30 . 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.