Effect of a static calf-stretching exercise on the resistive torque during passive ankle dorsiflexion in healthy subjects.

STUDY DESIGN A within-subject experimental design was used with to measure the effect of calf-stretching exercises on the resistive torque during passive ankle dorsiflexion in a group of 20 healthy men (aged 21 to 40). OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine if the performance of calf-stretching exercises would produce a decrease in resistive torque during passive ankle dorsiflexion. BACKGROUND Calf-stretching exercises are widely used in sporting, fitness, and rehabilitation settings yet the effects of stretching on the passive mechanics of the ankle joint are not well understood. METHODS AND MEASURES A KIN-COM isokinetic dynamometer was used to measure the passive resistive torque of the ankle while the joint complex was moved through return cycles from 10 degrees plantarflexion to 10 degrees dorsiflexion at a constant velocity of 6 degrees/s. Each subject's right or left ankle was randomly assigned to either a control or an experimental condition. The latter underwent a total of 4 static stretches, each lasting 30 seconds. RESULTS The main findings of the study were that the calf-stretching exercises did not produce a significant reduction in the resistive torque during ankle dorsiflexion, as measured by the peak to peak torque at 10 degrees of ankle dorsiflexion or in the center range of the hysteresis loop at 0 degree dorsiflexion. CONCLUSION Static calf-stretching exercises of short duration did not reduce the passive resistance of the connective tissue within the surrounding muscle and joint structures in the ankles of healthy young men.

[1]  V. Wright,et al.  Reference values for metacarpophalangeal joint stiffness in normals. , 1985, Annals of the rheumatic diseases.

[2]  M. A. Moore,et al.  Depression of Hoffmann reflexes following voluntary contraction and implications for proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation therapy. , 1991, Physical therapy.

[3]  T. Worrell,et al.  Chronic achilles peritendinitis: etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment. , 1991, The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy.

[4]  Richard W. Bohannon,et al.  Lasting effects of one bout of two 15-second passive stretches on ankle dorsiflexion range of motion. , 1997, The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy.

[5]  Effect of maintained stretch on the range of motion of the human ankle joint. , 1995, Clinical biomechanics.

[6]  D Dowson,et al.  Quantitative study of stiffness in the knee joint. , 1975, Annals of the rheumatic diseases.

[7]  Pamela K. Levangie,et al.  Joint Structure And Function , 2000 .

[8]  J. E. Beaulieu.  Developing a Stretching Program. , 1981, The Physician and sportsmedicine.

[9]  D. Dowson,et al.  A New form of Knee Arthrograph for the Study of Stiffness , 1978 .

[10]  D. Joyce White Cynthia C. Norkin,et al.  Measurement of Joint Motion , 1985 .

[11]  R. Herbert.  The passive mechanical properties of muscle and their adaptations to altered patterns of use. , 1988, The Australian journal of physiotherapy.

[12]  R. Donatelli.  The Biomechanics of the Foot and Ankle , 1995 .

[13]  K H Mauritz,et al.  Chronic transformation of muscle in spasticity: a peripheral contribution to increased tone. , 1985, Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry.

[14]  J. Lachin.  Introduction to sample size determination and power analysis for clinical trials. , 1981, Controlled clinical trials.

[15]  C. Hylton,et al.  Effects of static stretch versus static stretch and ultrasound combined on triceps surae muscle extensibility in healthy women. , 1987, Physical therapy.

[16]  N. Westlin,et al.  The effect of stretching on the range of motion of the ankle joint in badminton players*. , 1983, The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy.

[17]  William S. Quillen,et al.  Athletic injuries and rehabilitation , 1996 .

[18]  V. T. Inman.  The joints of the ankle , 1976 .

[19]  A. Viidik.  Functional properties of collagenous tissues. , 1973, International review of connective tissue research.

[20]  Muscle Strains: Prevention and Treatment. , 1980, The Physician and sportsmedicine.

[21]  F G Shellock,et al.  Warming-Up and Stretching for Improved Physical Performance and Prevention of Sports-Related Injuries , 1985, Sports medicine.

[22]  R. Hutton,et al.  Soleus muscle electromyographic activity and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion during four stretching procedures. , 1987, Physical therapy.

[23]  A. Vandervoort,et al.  Age and passive ankle stiffness in healthy women. , 1989, Physical therapy.

[24]  A. Seaber,et al.  Viscoelastic properties of muscle-tendon units , 1990, The American journal of sports medicine.

[25]  T. Sinkjær,et al.  Passive tension of the ankle before and after stretching , 1989, The American journal of sports medicine.