Effect of static and hold-relax stretching techniques on isokinetic measures of knee flexion.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of static and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques used as a warm-up on isokinetic measures of knee flexion. Fourteen female subjects (age = 22.43 {dollar}\pm{dollar} 2.44 years, height = 65.00 {dollar}\pm{dollar} 2.75 inches, and weight = 131.50 {dollar}\pm{dollar} 13.19 pounds) and 14 male subjects (age = 23.07 {dollar}\pm{dollar} 2.64 years, height = 71.79 {dollar}\pm{dollar} 2.46 inches, and weight = 196.36 {dollar}\pm{dollar} 28.77 pounds) consented to participate in all testing procedures. All 28 subjects (age = 22.75 {dollar}\pm{dollar} 2.52 years, height = 68.39 {dollar}\pm{dollar} 4.30 inches, and weight = 163.93 {dollar}\pm{dollar} 39.66 pounds) were habitually active and denied any recent history of knee or muscle injury.

Immediately prior to testing, subjects received one of three treatments to their dominant leg. Treatments consisted of the following: (1) no stretching or warm-up (control); (2) a modified hurdler's stretch (static), with the stretch being held for six seconds for six repetitions; or (3) a hold-relax (PNF) stretching technique using six-second isometric contractions of the hamstrings, followed by four seconds of relaxation, for six repetitions. The untreated leg served as control during static and PNF sessions. Six maximal knee extension/flexion repetitions were performed at 180 degrees per second on a Cybex 340 dynamometer. The effects of treatment were determined by comparing the treated leg with the untreated leg. Univariate analysis was used to determine differences, and the.05 level of probability was considered significant. None of the differences between means were significant. The results of the analyses indicate that static stretching or hold-relax stretching has no significant effect on peak torque, peak torque percent bodyweight, peak torque at 45 degrees of knee flexion, torque accelerated energy, average power percent bodyweight, and total work for females, males, and female and male subjects combined.