An 18-day stretching regimen, with or without pulsed, shortwave diathermy, and ankle dorsiflexion after 3 weeks.

CONTEXT

The amount of retained ankle flexibility gains and the effects of diathermy on those gains are unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the retention of flexibility 3 weeks after an 18-day stretching regime and the effect of pulsed, shortwave diathermy on that retention.

DESIGN

We used a 2x4 factorial with repeated measures on day (1, 19, 24, and 39). The other independent variable was treatment (stretch only versus diathermy and stretch). The dependent variable was ankle-dorsiflexion angular displacement as measured on a digital inclinometer.

SETTING

Therapeutic Modality Research Laboratory.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

23 healthy college-aged volunteers (8 males, 15 females; age = 22.7 +/- 2.1 years, height = 171.1 +/- 8.8 cm, mass = 70.4 +/- 13.5 kg).

INTERVENTIONS

All subjects performed 3 weeks (not including weekends) of low-load, prolonged, long-duration stretching. One group performed stretching only; the other group also received diathermy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): After an 18-day stretching regime and 7-day retention study, subjects returned 14 days later for the 3-week retention measure. The angle of inclination from the posterior Achilles tendon to the sole of the shoe near the heel was measured on each treatment and test day.

RESULTS

Regardless of group (F(1,21) = 0.74, P = 0.40), the flexibility gained between days 1 (99.7 +/- 4.0 degrees), 19 (102.9 +/- 5.8 degrees), and 24 (105.0 +/- 6.2 degrees) were maintained at day 39 (104.8+/- 7.2 degrees) (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Flexibility gains in normal ankles with 3 weeks of training were retained for at least 3 weeks after training ceased. The application of pulsed, shortwave diathermy during stretching did not appear to influence the chronic retention of flexibility gains in normal subjects.