Affiliations: [a] Center for Research in Health Sciences, University of Northern Parana, Londrina, Brazil | [b] Study and Research Group in Metabolism, Nutrition and Exercise, Londrina State University, Londrina, Brazil | [c] Maringa State University, Maringa, Brazil | [d] Andrews Research and Education Foundation, Gulf Breeze, FL, USA
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Alex Silva Ribeiro, Carmela Dutra Street 862, Jataizinho, 86210-000, Brazil. Tel.: +55 4332593860; E-mail:alex-silvaribeiro@hotmail.com
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Flexibility is an important component of physical
fitness. However, to date, there is no comparative study between men and
women concerning the influence of
resistance training (RT) on flexibility. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of RT on flexibility in young
adult men and women. METHODS: Twenty-eight men and 30 women underwent progressive RT for
16 weeks, 3 times per week. Anthropometric and flexibility measurements were
performed at pre-training, mid-training, and post-training. The flexibility
measurements were obtained using a fleximeter. RESULTS: There was no significant sex by time interaction
(P> 0.05) for any outcomes. Both sexes increased flexibility similarly from
baseline to mid-training in shoulder extension (10.4-11.1%) and lateral
trunk inclination (2.4-3.4%). Shoulder flexion increased at same
magnitude in men and women from baseline to post-training (1.3-2.8%). Hip
flexion and trunk flexion scores increased from baseline to mid-training
(hip flexion = 3.7-3.9%, trunk flexion = 2.7%), however, a decrease was
observed from mid- to post-training (hip flexion = -2.4 - -2.6%, trunk
flexion = -1.4%) with values returning to baseline with no difference
between men and women. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that regardless of sex, RT
improves or at least preserves the flexibility of different joint movements
in young adult men and women.
Keywords: Strength training, physical fitness, range of motion, muscle mass
