Immediate effect of static and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching on hip adductor flexibility in female ballet dancers.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the immediate effects of static and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching on the flexibility of hip adductors in female ballet dancers. Forty-five subjects (age: 28.5 ± 8.0 years; minimum two years of ballet  training) were randomly assigned to three groups: PNF (contract-release technique), Static, and Control. Subjects in the PNF and Static groups performed four sets of 30 second stretching with an interval of 30 seconds between sets. The control group stayed at rest for the same time spent by  the PNF and Static groups during the stretching sessions. Maximal range of motion was measured before and immediately after the experimental and control protocols in all groups. The results indicated significant differences between pre- and post-stretching flexibility in both PNF and Static  groups (p < 0.0001; effect size = 0.24 and 0.39, respectively), whereas no change was identified in the Control group (p = 0.265). However, no differences in post-exercise flexibility were found between PNF and Static groups (p = 0.235). It is concluded that static and PNF stretching methods  provoked similar post-exercise acute effects on the maximal range of motion of hip adductors in highly flexible female ballet dancers.
Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Estácio de Sá University, and Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health Promotion, University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ercolerubini@yahoo.com.br
Ercole C
EC
Rubini
Andréa C
AC
Souza
Mônica L
ML
Mello
Reury F P
RF
Bacurau
Leonardo F
LF
Cabral
Paulo T V
PT
Farinatti
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult