title: The acute effects of static stretching on peak force, peak rate of force development and muscle activity during single- and multiple-joint actions in older women.
abstract: The present study investigated the acute effects of static stretching on peak force, peak rate of force development and integrated electromyography (iEMG) in 27 older women (65 ± 4 years; 69 ± 9 kg; 157 ± 1 cm; 28 ± 4 kg · m(-2)). The participants were tested during two exercises (leg press and knee extension) after two conditions: stretching and control. The data were collected on four days (counterbalanced with a 24-hour rest period). In the stretching condition, the quadriceps muscle was stretched (knee flexion) for three sets of 30 s with 30 s rest intervals. No significant difference was detected for peak force and peak rate of force development during the single- and multiple-joint exercises, regardless of the following interactions: condition (stretching and control) vs. time (pre x post x 10 x 20 x 30 minutes post; P > 0.05) and exercise vs. time (P > 0.05). Additionally, no significant interaction was found for the iEMG activity (condition vs. time; P > 0.05) in the single- and multiple-joint exercises. In conclusion, a small amount of stretching of an agonist muscle (quadriceps) did not affect the peak force, peak rate of force development and EMG activity in older women during single- and multiple-joint exercises.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, UNESP - University Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, 13506-900 Brazil. raquel_lafe@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: André Luiz Demantova
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gurjão
authors.forename: José Claudio
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jambassi Filho
authors.forename: Paulo De Tarso Veras
authors.initials: Pde T
authors.lastname: Farinatti
authors.forename: Lilian Teresa Bucken
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Gobbi
authors.forename: Sebastião
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gobbi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004576:Electromyography; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D007596:Joints / Q000502:physiology*; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000502:physiology*