title: Effect of active stretch on hip flexion range of motion in female professional futsal players.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the hamstring flexibility progression through hip flexion passive range of motion before (baseline hip flexion PROM, lasting 6 weeks), during (effect of stretching program, lasting 8 weeks) and after (flexibility retention, lasting 4 weeks) an 8-week active stretching program in female professional futsal players.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen young adult professional female futsal players completed this study. An uninterrupted, longitudinal repeated-measures design was employed with participants randomly assigned into two groups: control and stretching group. The stretching group performed an 8-week active stretching program. The unilateral passive straight leg raise test was used to assess hip flexion PROM (hamstring extensibility) at 2, 4, and 6 weeks before the stretching program, at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks during the stretching program and at 2 and 4 weeks after the stretching program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis of the initial phase revealed that baseline hip flexion PROM had an irregular tendency with positive and negative peak hamstring ROM. An 8-week active stretching program improved hip flexion ROM 26.0±8.8% (P<0.05). Four weeks after the stretching program ended, hip flexion PROM retention showed a significant decrease (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effect of acute stretching prior to intensive physical activities should be considered by strength and conditioning specialists before using this active stretching program as part of a pre-exercise warm up routine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and Sports, Catholic University of San Antonio, Murcia, Spain. Fayala@pdi.ucam.edu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sainz De Baranda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Ste Croix
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult