title: The rate of force development obtained at early contraction phase is not influenced by active static stretching.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of active static stretching on the maximal isometric muscle strength (maximal voluntary contraction [MVC]) and rate of force development (RFD) determined within time intervals of 30, 50, 100, and 200 milliseconds relative to the onset of muscle contraction. Fifteen men (aged 21.3 ± 2.4 years) were submitted on different days to the following tests: (a) familiarization session to the isokinetic dynamometer; (b) 2 maximal isometric contractions for knee extensors in the isokinetic dynamometer to determine MVC and RFD (control); and (c) 2 active static stretching exercises for the dominant leg extensors (10 × 30 seconds for each exercise with a 20-second rest interval between bouts). After stretching, the isokinetic test was repeated (poststretching). Conditions 2 and 3 were performed in random order. The RFD was considered as the mean slope of the moment-time curve at time intervals of 0-30, 0-50, 0-100; 0-150; and 0200 milliseconds relative to the onset of muscle contraction. The MVC was reduced after stretching (285 ± 59 vs. 271 ± 56 N · m, p < 0.01). The RFD at intervals of 0-30, 0-50, and 0-100 milliseconds was unchanged after stretching (p > 0.05). However, the RFD measured at intervals of 0-150 and 0-200 milliseconds was significantly lower after stretching (p < 0.01). It can be concluded that explosive muscular actions of a very short duration (<100 milliseconds) seem less affected by active static stretching when compared with actions using maximal muscle strength.
authors: Human Performance Laboratory, São Paulo State University-Rio Claro, SP, Brazil.
authors: André L
authors: AL
authors: Morais de Oliveira
authors: Camila Coelho
authors: CC
authors: Greco
authors: Renato
authors: R
authors: Molina
authors: Benedito S
authors: BS
authors: Denadai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D007717:Knee / Q000502:physiology; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult