Halbertsma J P, Mulder I, Göeken L N, Eisma W H
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1999 Apr;80(4):407-14. doi: 10.1016/s0003-9993(99)90277-0.
To examine the response of short hamstring muscles to repeated passive stretching.
A repeated measures design.
A university laboratory for human movement analysis in a department of rehabilitation.
Students (7 men, 10 women) from the Department of Human Movement Sciences.
The lift force, range of motion, pelvic-femoral angle, first sensation of pain, and electromyogram of the hamstrings were measured.
Comparison of the data of the test group (n = 17) after five successive passive stretch tests by means of an instrumental straight-leg raising test showed no significant change of the variables passive muscle stiffness and extensibility (p>.05).
The acute effect of repeated passive stretching of short hamstring muscles is negligible. With an instrumental straight-leg raising test, the relevant muscle variables can be examined noninvasively.
