Acute Effect of Active and Passive Static Stretching on Elastic Modulus of the Hamstrings

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the acute effects of passive knee extension (PKE) and active knee extension (AKE) stretching on the shear elastic modulus of the hamstrings. In 20 healthy men, maximum knee extension (maximum range of motion [ROM]) and shear elastic modulus of the hamstrings (biceps femoris long head, semitendinosus, semimembranosus) were measured before (Pre) and after (Post) AKE and PKE stretching. The maximum ROM during stretching was measured. In both stretching methods, maximum ROM increased and the shear elastic modulus decreased (p<0.01), but no difference was found between the procedures. No significant difference was observed in the maximum ROM during stretching between the procedures (p=0.06). The shear elastic modulus was significantly lower in the biceps femoris long head and semimembranosus than in the semitendinosus muscle (p<0.05). Static stretching with PKE and AKE stretching showed an increase in maximum ROM and a decrease in hamstring elasticity, but no difference was found between the methods. Both stretching protocols were effective for reducing elasticity of the biceps femoris long head and semimembranosus.

Key words

muscle strain - flexibility - range of motion - shear wave elastography

• References

• 1 Ahmad CS, Redler LH, Ciccotti MG, Maffulli N, Longo UG, Bradley J. Evaluation and management of hamstring injuries. Am J Sports Med 2013; 41: 2933-2947
• 2 Askling CM, Tengvar M, Saartok T, Thorstensson A. Acute first-time hamstring strains during high-speed running: a longitudinal study including clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings. Am J Sports Med 2007; 35: 197-206
• 3 Askling CM, Tengvar M, Saartok T, Thorstensson A. Acute first-time hamstring strains during slow-speed stretching: clinical, magnetic resonance imaging, and recovery characteristics. Am J Sports Med 2007; 35: 1716-1724
• 4 Crema MD, Guermazi A, Tol JL, Niu J, Hamilton B, Roemer FW. Acute hamstring injury in football players: association between anatomical location and extent of injury–a large single-center MRI report. J Sci Med Sport 2016; 19: 317-322
• 5 De Smet AA, Best TM. MR imaging of the distribution and location of acute hamstring injuries in athletes. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2000; 174: 393-399
• 6 de Weijer VC, Gorniak GC, Shamus E. The effect of static stretch and warm-up exercise on hamstring length over the course of 24 hours. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2003; 33: 727-733
• 7 Ekstrand J, Hagglund M, Walden M. Epidemiology of muscle injuries in professional football (soccer). Am J Sports Med 2011; 39: 1226-1232
• 8 Ferreira GN, Teixeira-Salmela LF, Guimaraes CQ. Gains in flexibility related to measures of muscular performance: impact of flexibility on muscular performance. Clin J Sport Med 2007; 17: 276-281
• 9 Harriss DJ, Macsween A, Atkinson G. Standards for ethics in sport and exercise science research: 2018 update. Int J Sports Med 2017; 38: 1124-1131
• 10 Hazaki K, Ichihashi N, Morinaga T. Effects of stretching on antagonist muscle following maximal contraction of agonist muscle. Annual Report of the College of Medical. Technology, Kyoto University 1996; 16: 29-35
• 11 Herda TJ, Costa PB, Walter AA, Ryan ED, Hoge KM, Kerksick CM, Stout JR, Cramer JT. Effects of two modes of static stretching on muscle strength and stiffness. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2011; 43: 1777-1784
• 12 Herda TJ, Herda ND, Costa PB, Walter-Herda AA, Valdez AM, Cramer JT. The effects of dynamic stretching on the passive properties of the muscle-tendon unit. J Sports Sci 2013; 31: 479-487
• 13 Hirata K, Miyamoto-Mikami E, Kimura N, Miyamoto N. No association between passive material property and cross-sectional area in human hamstring. J Phys Fitness. Sports Med 2018; 7: 35-40
• 14 Hoffren M, Ishikawa M, Komi PV. Age-related neuromuscular function during drop jumps. J Appl Physiol 1985; 103: 1276-1283
• 15 Hug F, Tucker K, Gennisson JL, Tanter M, Nordez A. Elastography for muscle biomechanics: toward the estimation of individual muscle force. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 2015; 43: 125-133
• 16 Ichihashi N, Umegaki H, Ikezoe T, Nakamura M, Nishishita S, Fujita K, Umehara J, Nakao S, Ibuki S. The effects of a 4-week static stretching programme on the individual muscles comprising the hamstrings. J Sports Sci 2016; 34: 2155-2159
• 17 Jackson TJ, Starkey C, McElhiney D, Domb BG. Epidemiology of hip injuries in the national basketball association: a 24-year overview. Orthop J Sports Med 2013; 1: 2325967113499130
• 18 Kellis E, Galanis N, Kapetanos G, Natsis K. Architectural differences between the hamstring muscles. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2012; 22: 520-526
• 19 Komiyama T, Kasai T. Changes in the H-reflexes of ankle extensor and flexor muscles at the initiation of a stepping movement in humans. Brain Res 1997; 766: 227-235
• 20 Koo TK, Guo JY, Cohen JH, Parker KJ. Relationship between shear elastic modulus and passive muscle force: an ex-vivo study. J Biomech 2013; 46: 2053-2059
• 21 Kot BC, Zhang ZJ, Lee AW, Leung VY, Fu SN. Elastic modulus of muscle and tendon with shear wave ultrasound elastography: variations with different technical settings. PLoS One 2012; 7: e44348
• 22 Le Sant G, Ates F, Brasseur JL, Nordez A. Elastography study of hamstring behaviors during passive stretching. PLoS One 2015; 10: e0139272
• 23 Leong HT, Ng GY, Leung VY, Fu SN. Quantitative estimation of muscle shear elastic modulus of the upper trapezius with supersonic shear imaging during arm positioning. PLoS One 2013; 8: e67199
• 24 Magnusson SP, Aagaard P, Simonsen EB, Bojsen-Moller F. Passive tensile stress and energy of the human hamstring muscles in vivo. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2000; 10: 351-359
• 25 Maisetti O, Hug F, Bouillard K, Nordez A. Characterization of passive elastic properties of the human medial gastrocnemius muscle belly using supersonic shear imaging. J Biomech 2012; 45: 978-984
• 26 Marshall PW, Cashman A, Cheema BS. A randomized controlled trial for the effect of passive stretching on measures of hamstring extensibility, passive stiffness, strength, and stretch tolerance. J Sci Med Sport 2011; 14: 535-540
• 27 Medeiros DM, Cini A, Sbruzzi G, Lima CS. Influence of static stretching on hamstring flexibility in healthy young adults: systematic review and meta-analysis. Physiother Theory Pract 2016; 32: 438-445
• 28 Mendiguchia J, Alentorn-Geli E, Brughelli M. Hamstring strain injuries: are we heading in the right direction?. Br J Sports Med 2012; 46: 81-85
• 29 Meroni R, Cerri CG, Lanzarini C, Barindelli G, Morte GD, Gessaga V, Cesana GC, De Vito G. Comparison of active stretching technique and static stretching technique on hamstring flexibility. Clin J Sport Med 2010; 20: 8-14
• 30 Miyamoto N, Hirata K, Kanehisa H. Effects of hamstring stretching on passive muscle stiffness vary between hip flexion and knee extension maneuvers. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2017; 27: 99-106
• 31 Nakamura M, Ikezoe T, Takeno Y, Ichihashi N. Acute and prolonged effect of static stretching on the passive stiffness of the human gastrocnemius muscle tendon unit in vivo. J Orthop Res 2011; 29: 1759-1763
• 32 Nakamura M, Ikezoe T, Takeno Y, Ichihashi N. Time course of changes in passive properties of the gastrocnemius muscle-tendon unit during 5 min of static stretching. Man Ther 2013; 18: 211-215
• 33 Nishikawa Y, Aizawa J, Kanemura N, Takahashi T, Hosomi N, Maruyama H. et al. Immediate effect of passive and active stretching on hamstrings flexibility: a single-blinded randomized control trial. J Phys Ther Sci 2015; 27: 3167-3170
• 34 O'Sullivan K, Murray E, Sainsbury D. The effect of warm-up, static stretching and dynamic stretching on hamstring flexibility in previously injured subjects. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2009; 10: 37
• 35 Power K, Behm D, Cahill F, Carroll M, Young W. An acute bout static stretching: effects on force and jumping performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2004; 36: 1389-1396
• 36 Prado LG, Makarenko I, Andresen C, Kruger M, Opitz CA, Linke WA. Isoform diversity of giant proteins in relation to passive and active contractile properties of rabbit skeletal muscles. J Gen Physiol 2005; 126: 461-480
• 37 Ryan ED, Beck TW, Herda TJ, Hull HR, Hartman MJ, Costa PB, Defreitas JM, Stout JR, Cramer JT. The time course of musculotendinous stiffness responses following different durations of passive stretching. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2008; 38: 632-639
• 38 Sekir U, Arabact R, Akova B, Kadagan SM. Acute effects of static and dynamic stretching on leg flexor and extensor isokinetic strength in elite women athletes. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2010; 20: 268-281
• 39 Taniguchi K, Shinohara M, Nozaki S, Katayose M. Acute decrease in the stiffness of resting muscle belly due to static stretching. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2015; 25: 32-40
• 40 Taylor JL, McCloskey DI. Detection of slow movements imposed at the elbow during active flexion in man. J Physiol 1992; 457: 503-513
• 41 Umegaki H, Ikezoe T, Nakamura M, Nishishita S, Kobayashi T, Fujita K. et al. Acute effects of static stretching on the hamstrings using shear elastic modulus determined by ultrasound shear wave elastography: differences in flexibility between hamstring muscle components. Man Ther 2015; 20: 610-613
• 42 Winters MV, Blake CG, Trost JS, Marcello-Brinker TB, Lowe LM, Garber MB, Wainner RS. Passive versus active stretching of hip flexor muscles in subjects with limited hip extension: a randomized clinical trial. Phys Ther 2004; 84: 800-807
• 43 Woodley SJ, Mercer SR. Hamstring muscles: architecture and innervation. Cells Tissues Organs 2005; 179: 125-141
• 44 Woods C, Hawkins RD, Maltby S, Hulse M, Thomas A, Hodson A. The Football Association Medical Research Programme: an audit of injuries in professional football–analysis of hamstring injuries. Br J Sports Med 2004; 38: 36-41