Repeated passive stretching: acute effect on the passive muscle moment and extensibility of short hamstrings.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the response of short hamstring muscles to repeated passive stretching.


METHODS
A repeated measures design.


METHODS
A university laboratory for human movement analysis in a department of rehabilitation.


METHODS
Students (7 men, 10 women) from the Department of Human Movement Sciences.


METHODS
The lift force, range of motion, pelvic-femoral angle, first sensation of pain, and electromyogram of the hamstrings were measured.


RESULTS
Comparison of the data of the test group (n = 17) after five successive passive stretch tests by means of an instrumental straight-leg raising test showed no significant change of the variables passive muscle stiffness and extensibility (p>.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The acute effect of repeated passive stretching of short hamstring muscles is negligible. With an instrumental straight-leg raising test, the relevant muscle variables can be examined noninvasively.
Halbertsma
J P
JP
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands.
Mulder
I
I
Göeken
L N
LN
Eisma
W H
WH
D000328:Adult; D003286:Contracture / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000295:instrumentation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D015915:Motion Therapy, Continuous Passive / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*