Static-stretching vs. contract-relax - proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching: study the effect on muscle response using tensiomyography.

Abstract

This study used tensiomyography to examine the changes observed in the response of the biceps femoris muscle of the dominant leg of ten young female gymnasts (Mean age ± SD: 13.2 ± 1.8 years, height: 153.9 ± 6.0 cm, body mass: 42.0 ± 5.3 kg) after performing two different stretching protocols: contract-relax (CR) and static-stretching (SS). Results revealed change of muscle response immediately after warm-up: increased velocity of deformation (V3mm), stiffness, holding time (Ts) and reduced relaxation time (Tr). The changes were most evident in the first three minutes after applying the two stretching protocols, being more evident in CR than in SS. The results suggests that athletes who include stretching in their warm-up will find the post warm-up mechanical response less impaired after the first three minutes and more so when using the techniques based on working with static-stretching, compared to techniques based in contract-relax.