title: Immediate effect of passive and active stretching on hamstrings flexibility: a single-blinded randomized control trial.
abstract: [Purpose] This study compared the efficacy of passive and active stretching techniques on hamstring flexibility. [Subjects] Fifty-four healthy young subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups (2 treatment groups and 1 control group). [Methods] Subjects in the passive stretching group had their knees extended by an examiner while lying supine 90° of hip flexion. In the same position, subjects in the active stretching group extended their knees. The groups performed 3 sets of the assigned stretch, with each stretch held for 10 seconds at the point where tightness in the hamstring muscles was felt. Subjects in the control group did not perform stretching. Before and immediately after stretching, hamstring flexibility was assessed by a blinded assessor, using the active knee-extension test. [Results] After stretching, there was a significant improvement in the hamstring flexibilities of the active and passive stretching groups compared with the control group. Furthermore, the passive stretching group showed significantly greater improvement in hamstring flexibility than the active stretching group. [Conclusion] Improvement in hamstring flexibility measured by the active knee-extension test was achieved by both stretching techniques; however, passive stretching was more effective than active stretching at achieving an immediate increase in hamstring flexibility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Japan ; Department of Clinical Support, Hiroshima University Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.affiliation: Clinical Center for Sports Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
authors.forename: Junya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Social Services, Saitama Prefectural University, Japan.
authors.forename: Naohiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanemura
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Japan.
authors.forename: Naohisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hosomi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hiroshima University Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Japan.
authors.forename: Masayasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Social Services, Saitama Prefectural University, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiyomi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takayanagi
keywords: Active stretching; Hamstring flexibility; Passive stretching