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Cited by 30Sports Performance and TrainingLower Extremity Biomechanics and PathologiesSports injuries and prevention

The effects of static stretching programs on muscle strength and muscle architecture of the medial gastrocnemius

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Sato, Shigeru, Hiraizumi, Kakeru, Kiyono, Ryosuke, Fukaya, Taizan, Nishishita, Satoru, Nunes, João Pedro, Nakamura, Masatoshi·2020·PLOS ONE
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0235679PMC PMC7347101
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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Static stretching (SS) program are widely used in clinical and athletic settings. Many previous studies investigate the effect of SS program on muscle strength and muscle architecture (muscle thickness, and pennation angleh). However, no consensus has been reached about the effect of SS programs on muscle strength and muscle architecture. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 6-week SS programs performed at different weekly frequencies on muscle strength, muscle thickness and pennation angle at different ankle joint positions. METHODS: A total of 24 healthy male volunteers were performed 6-week SS programs (2,160 s of SS: 360 s/week*6 weeks) and were randomized to a group that performed SS once a week, or a group that performed SS three times per week. Total time under stretching was equated between groups. The muscle strength (maximum voluntary isometric contraction) at three different ankle joints were assessed before and after the 6-week SS program. In addition, muscle thickness and pennation angle were assessed by ultrasonography before and after 6-week SS program. RESULTS: There were no significant changes in all variables before and after the 6-week SS program, regardless of weekly frequency (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that 6-week SS programs do not increase muscle strength or muscle architecture at different ankle joint positions, regardless of stretching frequency; however, no negative effect on these outcomes was observed, contrary to evidence on the immediate, detrimental effects of SS.

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Sato, S., Hiraizumi, K., Kiyono, R., Fukaya, T., Nishishita, S., Nunes, J. P., & Nakamura, M.
Affiliations
  • Niigata University of Health and Welfare (JP)
  • Kyoto Kujo Hospital (JP)
  • Kyoto University (JP)
  • Universidade Estadual de Londrina (BR)
Corresponding author
Nakamura, Masatoshi
ORCID
Venue
PLOS ONE
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published
2020-07-09
Volume
15
Issue
7
Pages
e0235679
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0235679
PMC
PMC7347101
OpenAlex
W3041144301
Cited by
30
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 7
FWCI
5.50
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (19K19890)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports injuries and prevention
Keywords
static stretching, medial gastrocnemius, muscle strength, muscle architecture, pennation angle, muscle thickness, stretching frequency, ankle joint position, maximal voluntary isometric contraction, ultrasonography
MeSH terms
Ankle Joint, Humans, Male, Ultrasonography, Range of Motion, Articular, Muscle, Skeletal, Muscle Stretching Exercises, Muscle Strength, Young Adult

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