Acute effects of static and dynamic stretching on hamstrings' response times

J Sports Sci. 2014;32(9):817-25. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2013.861606. Epub 2014 Jan 10.

Abstract

The main purposes of this study were to (a) investigate acute effects of static and dynamic lower limb stretching routines on total response time, pre-motor time and motor time of the medial and lateral hamstrings during maximal eccentric isokinetic knee flexion; and (b) determine whether static and dynamic routines elicit similar responses. A total of 38 active adults completed the following intervention protocols in a randomised order on separate days: (a) non-stretching (control condition), (b) static stretching and (c) dynamic stretching. After the stretching or control intervention, total response time, pre-motor time and motor time of the medial and lateral hamstrings were assessed during eccentric knee flexion movements with participants prone. Measures were compared via a mixed-design factorial ANOVA. There were no main effects for total response time, pre-motor time and motor time. The results suggest that dynamic and static stretching has no influence on hamstrings response times (total response time, pre-motor time and motor time) and hence neither form of stretching reduces this primary risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Knee Injuries / prevention & control
  • Knee Joint / physiology
  • Male
  • Motor Activity / physiology*
  • Muscle Stretching Exercises / methods*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology*
  • Reaction Time
  • Thigh / physiology*
  • Young Adult