Kaoru Yahata1, Andreas Konrad2, Shigeru Sato1, Ryosuke Kiyono1, Riku Yoshida3, Taizan Fukaya1,4, João Pedro Nunes5, Masatoshi Nakamura6,7. 1. Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-cho, Kita-ku, Niigata City, Niigata, 950-3198, Japan. 2. Institute of Human Movement Science, Sport and Health, University of Graz, Mozartgasse 14, 8010, Graz, Austria. 3. Department of Physical Therapy, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-cho, Kita-ku, Niigata City, Niigata, 950-3198, Japan. 4. Department of Rehabilitation, Kyoto Kujo Hospital, 10 Karahashirajoumoncho, Minami-ku, Kyoto, 601-8453, Japan. 5. Metabolism, Nutrition, and Exercise Laboratory, Physical Education and Sport Center, Londrina State University, Londrina, 86057-970, PR, Brazil. 6. Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-cho, Kita-ku, Niigata City, Niigata, 950-3198, Japan. masatoshi-nakamura@nuhw.ac.jp. 7. Department of Physical Therapy, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-cho, Kita-ku, Niigata City, Niigata, 950-3198, Japan. masatoshi-nakamura@nuhw.ac.jp.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Static stretching (SS) is performed in various settings, but there is no consensus about the effects of SS programmes on changes in muscle morphofunction. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a high-volume SS programme on muscle strength and architecture. METHODS: Sixteen healthy young male adults participated, and the dominant leg was defined as the intervention side, with the non-dominant leg as the control side. Stretching exercises were performed two times per week (6 sets of 5 min, totally 30 min per session,) for 5-week using a stretching board under the supervision of the research team. Before and after SS intervention programme, plantar-flexor strength (maximum voluntary isometric contraction, MVC-ISO; maximum voluntary concentric contraction, MVC-CON) and architecture (muscle thickness, pennation angle, and fascicle length) were measured via dynamometer and ultrasound, respectively. RESULTS: Following the SS-training programme, significant increases were observed for stretching side in MVIC-ISO at neutral ankle position (p = 0.02, d = 0.31, Δ = 6.4 ± 9.9%) and MVC-CON at 120°/s (p = 0.02, d = 0.30, Δ = 7.8 ± 9.1%), with no significant change on the control side. There was no significant change in any measure of muscle architecture for both intervention and control sides. CONCLUSION: Five-week high-volume SS induced positive changes on some measures of muscle strength but not hypertrophy of plantar-flexor muscles. Even with a volume much greater than already tested, the low strain offered by the SS per set seems be insufficient to induce architectural changes on skeletal muscle.
PURPOSE: Static stretching (SS) is performed in various settings, but there is no consensus about the effects of SS programmes on changes in muscle morphofunction. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a high-volume SS programme on muscle strength and architecture. METHODS: Sixteen healthy young male adults participated, and the dominant leg was defined as the intervention side, with the non-dominant leg as the control side. Stretching exercises were performed two times per week (6 sets of 5 min, totally 30 min per session,) for 5-week using a stretching board under the supervision of the research team. Before and after SS intervention programme, plantar-flexor strength (maximum voluntary isometric contraction, MVC-ISO; maximum voluntary concentric contraction, MVC-CON) and architecture (muscle thickness, pennation angle, and fascicle length) were measured via dynamometer and ultrasound, respectively. RESULTS: Following the SS-training programme, significant increases were observed for stretching side in MVIC-ISO at neutral ankle position (p = 0.02, d = 0.31, Δ = 6.4 ± 9.9%) and MVC-CON at 120°/s (p = 0.02, d = 0.30, Δ = 7.8 ± 9.1%), with no significant change on the control side. There was no significant change in any measure of muscle architecture for both intervention and control sides. CONCLUSION: Five-week high-volume SS induced positive changes on some measures of muscle strength but not hypertrophy of plantar-flexor muscles. Even with a volume much greater than already tested, the low strain offered by the SS per set seems be insufficient to induce architectural changes on skeletal muscle.
Authors: Masatoshi Nakamura; Riku Yoshida; Shigeru Sato; Kaoru Yahata; Yuta Murakami; Kazuki Kasahara; Taizan Fukaya; Kosuke Takeuchi; João Pedro Nunes; Andreas Konrad Journal: Front Physiol Date: 2021-12-17 Impact factor: 4.566
Authors: Andreas Konrad; Masatoshi Nakamura; Florian K Paternoster; Markus Tilp; David G Behm Journal: Eur J Appl Physiol Date: 2022-03-17 Impact factor: 3.346
Authors: Konstantin Warneke; Michael Keiner; Martin Hillebrecht; Stephan Schiemann Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-09-15 Impact factor: 4.614