Influence of One Hour versus Two Hours of Daily Static Stretching for Six Weeks Using a Calf-Muscle-Stretching Orthosis on Maximal Strength

Konstantin Warneke (), Michael Keiner, Martin Hillebrecht and Stephan Schiemann
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Konstantin Warneke: Institute for Exercise, Sport and Health, Leuphana University, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
Michael Keiner: Department of Sport Science, German University of Health & Sport, 85737 Ismaning, Germany
Martin Hillebrecht: University Sports Center, University of Oldenburg, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
Stephan Schiemann: Institute for Exercise, Sport and Health, Leuphana University, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 18, 1-11

Abstract: Rebuilding strength capacity is of crucial importance in rehabilitation since significant atrophy due to immobilization after injury and/or surgery can be assumed. To increase maximal strength (MSt), strength training is commonly used. The literature regarding animal studies show that long-lasting static stretching (LStr) interventions can also produce significant improvements in MSt with a dose–response relationship, with stretching times ranging from 30 min to 24 h per day; however, there is limited evidence in human studies. Consequently, the aim of this study is to investigate the dose–response relationship of long-lasting static stretching on MSt. A total of 70 active participants (f = 30, m = 39; age: 27.4 ± 4.4 years; height: 175.8 ± 2.1 cm; and weight: 79.5 ± 5.9 kg) were divided into three groups: IG1 and IG2 both performed unilateral stretching continuously for one (IG1) or two hours (IG2), respectively, per day for six weeks, while the CG served as the non-intervened control. MSt was determined in the plantar flexors in the intervened as well as in the non-intervened control leg to investigate the contralateral force transfer. Two-way ANOVA showed significant interaction effects for MSt in the intervened leg (ƞ 2 = 0.325, p < 0.001) and in the contralateral control leg (ƞ 2 = 0.123, p = 0.009), dependent upon stretching time. From this, it can be hypothesized that stretching duration had an influence on MSt increases, but both durations were sufficient to induce significant enhancements in MSt. Thus, possible applications in rehabilitation can be assumed, e.g., if no strength training can be performed, atrophy could instead be reduced by performing long-lasting static stretch training.

Keywords: plantar flexors; stretch training; rehabilitation; immobilization-related strength deficit; physical therapy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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