Abstract
This study aimed to compare the acute effects of static stretching (SS) and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching on hamstrings flexibility and shear modulus. Sixteen recreationally active young volunteers participated in a randomized cross-over study. Participants underwent an aerobic warm-up (WU), followed by either SS or PNF stretching. Range of motion (RoM) during passive straight leg raise and active knee extension, as well as shear modulus of the biceps femoris (BF) and semitendinosus (ST) muscles, were measured at baseline, post-WU, and post-stretching. Both stretching techniques significantly increased RoM, with no differences observed between SS and PNF (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.59–0.68). However, only PNF stretching resulted in a significant decrease in BF shear modulus (time×stretching type interaction: p = 0.045; η2 = 0.19), indicating reduced muscle stiffness. No changes in ST shear modulus were observed after either stretching technique. There was no significant correlation between changes in RoM and shear modulus, suggesting that the increase in RoM was predominantly due to changes in stretch tolerance rather than mechanical properties of the muscles. These findings suggest that both SS and PNF stretching can effectively improve hamstring flexibility, but PNF stretching may additionally reduce BF muscle stiffness. The study highlights the importance of considering individual muscle-specific responses to stretching techniques and provides insights into the mechanisms underpinning acute increases in RoM.
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All collected data are included in the manuscript. Raw data are available upon reasonable request to the corresponding author.
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The study was supported by Slovenian Research Agency through research program P5-0443: Kinesiology for the effectiveness and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries in sports.
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DB and ZK conceptualized the idea. PZ, AJ, and KK recruited the subjects and organized the measurement sessions. PZ, KK and AJ carried out the measurements. PZ and AJ analyzed the data. ZK and DB were overviewing the measurement procedures and administration. PZ wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All the authors worked on finalizing the manuscript.
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The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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The research methods and interventions used are non-invasive, in accordance with the ethical approval of the National Medical Ethics Committee of Republic of Slovenia; No.: 0120-321/2017-4) and in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.
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Communicated by Toshio Moritani.
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Železnik, P., Jelen, A., Kalc, K. et al. Acute effects of static and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching on hamstrings muscle stiffness and range of motion: a randomized cross-over study. Eur J Appl Physiol 124, 1005–1014 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05325-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05325-x