ORIGINAL ARTICLES  PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOMECHANICS 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2010 December;50(4):428-35

Copyright © 2010 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Effect of active stretch on hip flexion range of motion in female professional futsal players

Ayala F. ¹, Sainz De Baranda P. ², De Ste Croix M. ³ ✉

¹ Department of Health Sciences and Sports, Catholic University of San Antonio, Murcia, Spain; ² Faculty of Sport and Physical Educationof Toledo, University of Castilla La Mancha, Spain; ³ Faculty of Sport and Applied Sciences, University of Gloucestershire Gloucester, UK

AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine the hamstring flexibility progression through hip flexion passive range of motion before (baseline hip flexion PROM, lasting 6 weeks), during (effect of stretching program, lasting 8 weeks) and after (flexibility retention, lasting 4 weeks) an 8-week active stretching program in female professional futsal players.
METHODS: Eighteen young adult professional female futsal players completed this study. An uninterrupted, longitudinal repeated-measures design was employed with participants randomly assigned into two groups: control and stretching group. The stretching group performed an 8-week active stretching program. The unilateral passive straight leg raise test was used to assess hip flexion PROM (hamstring extensibility) at 2, 4, and 6 weeks before the stretching program, at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks during the stretching program and at 2 and 4 weeks after the stretching program.
RESULTS: The analysis of the initial phase revealed that baseline hip flexion PROM had an irregular tendency with positive and negative peak hamstring ROM. An 8-week active stretching program improved hip flexion ROM 26.0±8.8% (P<0.05). Four weeks after the stretching program ended, hip flexion PROM retention showed a significant decrease (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION: The effect of acute stretching prior to intensive physical activities should be considered by strength and conditioning specialists before using this active stretching program as part of a pre-exercise warm up routine.