Academic Journal
Effect of 12-week dynamic stretching of hamstrings on joint flexibility and musculoskeletal properties.
| Τίτλος: | Effect of 12-week dynamic stretching of hamstrings on joint flexibility and musculoskeletal properties. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Ikeda N; Institute for General Education, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Japan. n-ikeda3@fc.ritsumei.ac.jp.; Institute of Physical Education, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan. n-ikeda3@fc.ritsumei.ac.jp., Hiratsuka K; Faculty of Human Health Sciences , Hachinohe Gakuin University, Hachinohe, Japan., Inami T; Institute of Physical Education, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan., Isaka T; Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Japan. |
| Πηγή: | European journal of applied physiology [Eur J Appl Physiol] 2026 Sep; Vol. 126 (9), pp. 4859-4865. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jun 29. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Springer-Verlag Country of Publication: Germany NLM ID: 100954790 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1439-6327 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14396319 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Eur J Appl Physiol Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: Berlin ; New York : Springer-Verlag, c2000- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Hamstring Muscles*/physiology , Range of Motion, Articular*/physiology , Muscle Stretching Exercises*/physiology , Knee Joint*/physiology , Muscle Strength*/physiology, Humans ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Torque |
| Περίληψη: | Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effects of a 12‑week hamstrings dynamic stretching (DS) program on joint flexibility, muscle strength, and musculoskeletal properties in the stretched limb, with the non‑stretched limb assessed for comparison. Methods: The study comprised 18 healthy young adults (12 males, 6 females) who performed hamstrings DS on one leg three times per week for 12 weeks, with the contralateral leg serving as the control. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included knee extension range of motion (KEROM), peak passive torque during KEROM (stretch tolerance), muscle stiffness, and knee flexor strength. Muscle stiffness was evaluated using shear-wave elastography targeting the biceps femoris (BF). Knee flexor strength was assessed using the rate of torque development (RTD) and isokinetic knee flexion torque. Results: KEROM significantly increased in the DS condition (p = 0.025; d = 0.61), with no significant change in the control condition (p = 0.55; d = 0.15). Peak passive torque significantly increased following DS (p = 0.041; d = 0.68), with no change in the contralateral limb (p = 0.21; d = 0.21). BF stiffness significantly decreased in the DS condition and remained unchanged in the contralateral limb (70° knee flexion: DS, p < 0.01, d = 0.79; control, p = 0.30, d = 0.30; 50° knee flexion: DS, p = 0.044, d = 0.55; control, p = 0.18, d = 0.34. RTD and isokinetic knee flexion strength did not change significantly in either condition. Conclusion: Twelve weeks of hamstrings DS enhanced stretch tolerance, reduced muscle stiffness, and improved joint flexibility in the stretched limb, with no notable changes observed in the contralateral limb. Trial Registration: Name of trial registry Effects of training and conditioning methods on mechanical properties of skeletal muscle Identifying number (URL) UMIN000051819 ( https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000058080 ) Date of registration 5th Aug 2023. (© 2026. The Author(s).) |
| Competing Interests: | Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. None of the authors has any professional relationship with companies or manufacturers that could benefit from the results of this study. Ethical approval: This study was approved by the Ethics Review Committee on Research of Ritsumeikan University (approval number: BKC-LSMH-2023-009). |
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| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Elasticity and muscle; Elasticity imaging techniques; Muscle strength; Muscle stretching exercises; Range of motion; Stiffness |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260629 Date Completed: 20260904 Latest Revision: 20260906 |
| Update Code: | 20260906 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13541896 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00421-026-06309-3 |
| PMID: | 42371069 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1439-6327 |
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| DOI: | 10.1007/s00421-026-06309-3 |