Table 2. Effects of stretching on changes in isometric muscle force and electromyographic activity at the flexed position.
Dependant variable
Streching method
Pre
Post 0 min
Post 20 min
Post 60 min
Isometric muscle force at the flexed position (Nm)
SS
70.4 ± 16.4
59.3 ± 15.6 *
58.6 ± 14.6 *
58.5 ± 15.0 *
Relative change
-
-16.1 ± 8.7%
-16.5 ± 11.5%
-16.8 ± 10.0%
DS
70.6 ± 12.8
60.6 ± 13.5 *
59.3 ± 13.4 *
58.0 ± 14.0 *
Relative change
-
-14.5 ± 7.7%
-16.5 ± 8.8%
-18.3 ± 10.3%
SS-DS
67.3 ± 15.5
58.5 ± 15.9 *
57.1 ± 15.1 *
56.6 ± 15.6 *
Relative change
-
-13.7 ± 7.7%
-15.5 ± 6.6%
-16.5 ± 8.2%
DS-SS
69.5 ± 16.9
59.1 ± 17.7 *
56.8 ± 17.4 *
59.5 ± 17.4 *
Relative change
-
-16.0 ± 9.0%
-19.3 ± 7.9%
-15.1 ± 9.9%
RMS values (medial hamstrings) (μV)
SS
257.6 ± 83.1
204.9 ± 58.8 *
193.0 ± 67.8 *
199.0 ± 80.2 *
Relative change
-
-17.6 ± 16.2%
-23.9 ± 15.4%
-22.1 ± 21.4%
DS
254.4 ± 107.2
200.4 ± 70.4 *
212.8 ± 93.4 *
208.0 ± 83.2 *
Relative change
-
-19.3 ± 15.1%
-15.8 ± 17.7%
-16.2 ± 23.0%
SS-DS
252.9 ± 83.4
200.7 ± 73.2 *
214.2 ± 91.5
203.2 ± 77.2 *
Relative change
-
-19.3 ± 18.5%
-13.6 ± 23.3%
-17.9 ± 22.7%
DS-SS
246.8 ± 88.1
210.5 ± 87.3 *
209.5 ± 85.6
201.3 ± 70.1 *
Relative change
-
-13.1 ± 26.0%
-12.9 ± 27.4
-16.8 ± 18.2%
RMS values (lateral hamstrings) (μV)
SS
233.6 ± 108.0
218.3 ± 75.3
203.1 ± 65.5
198.2 ± 76.2
Relative change
-
-1.6 ± 23.4%
-8.1 ± 23.0%
-9.4 ± 24.8%
DS
206.0 ± 68.3
198.2 ± 74.4
167.3 ± 44.3 *
162.9 ± 53.1 *
Relative change
-
-3.1 ± 22.8%
-14.5 ± 22.7%
-19.6 ± 16.7%
SS-DS
201.9 ± 39.5
194.4 ± 55.4
180.4 ± 46.0
191.0 ± 54.1
Relative change
-
-4.5 ± 15.3%
-10.2 ± 18.9%
-4.8 ± 22.0%
DS-SS
209.6 ± 71.3
179.5 ± 56.0 *
177.9 ± 67.1 *
192.6 ± 69.4
Relative change
-
-12.0 ± 16.0%
-14.8 ± 19.0%
-7.0 ± 15.7%
RMS, root mean square; SS, static stretching; DS, dynamic stretching; SS-DS, static stretching followed by dynamic stretching; DS-SS, dynamic stretching followed by static stretching. Values are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation.