Repeated passive stretching: acute effect on the passive muscle moment and extensibility of short hamstrings.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the response of short hamstring muscles to repeated passive stretching.

DESIGN

A repeated measures design.

SETTING

A university laboratory for human movement analysis in a department of rehabilitation.

SUBJECTS

Students (7 men, 10 women) from the Department of Human Movement Sciences.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The lift force, range of motion, pelvic-femoral angle, first sensation of pain, and electromyogram of the hamstrings were measured.

RESULTS

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).

CONCLUSION

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.