An 18-day stretching regimen, with or without pulsed, shortwave diathermy, and ankle dorsiflexion after 3 weeks.
BACKGROUND
The amount of retained ankle flexibility gains and the effects of diathermy on those gains are unclear.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the retention of flexibility 3 weeks after an 18-day stretching regime and the effect of pulsed, shortwave diathermy on that retention.


METHODS
We used a 2x4 factorial with repeated measures on day (1, 19, 24, and 39). The other independent variable was treatment (stretch only versus diathermy and stretch). The dependent variable was ankle-dorsiflexion angular displacement as measured on a digital inclinometer.


METHODS
Therapeutic Modality Research Laboratory.


METHODS
23 healthy college-aged volunteers (8 males, 15 females; age = 22.7 +/- 2.1 years, height = 171.1 +/- 8.8 cm, mass = 70.4 +/- 13.5 kg).


METHODS
All subjects performed 3 weeks (not including weekends) of low-load, prolonged, long-duration stretching. One group performed stretching only; the other group also received diathermy.


METHODS
After an 18-day stretching regime and 7-day retention study, subjects returned 14 days later for the 3-week retention measure. The angle of inclination from the posterior Achilles tendon to the sole of the shoe near the heel was measured on each treatment and test day.


RESULTS
Regardless of group (F(1,21) = 0.74, P = 0.40), the flexibility gained between days 1 (99.7 +/- 4.0 degrees), 19 (102.9 +/- 5.8 degrees), and 24 (105.0 +/- 6.2 degrees) were maintained at day 39 (104.8+/- 7.2 degrees) (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Flexibility gains in normal ankles with 3 weeks of training were retained for at least 3 weeks after training ceased. The application of pulsed, shortwave diathermy during stretching did not appear to influence the chronic retention of flexibility gains in normal subjects.
Brucker
Jody B
JB
Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA. jody_brucker@indstate.edu
Knight
Kenneth L
KL
Rubley
Mack D
MD
Draper
David O
DO