Affiliations: Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Anelize Cini, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Felizardo, n° 750, Jardim Botânico, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul CEP.: 90690-200, Brazil. Tel.: +55 54 99674342; E-mail:anelizecini@yahoo.com.br
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Several factors are associated with the presence of
chronic low back pain; one of them is the flexibility of the hamstring
muscles that influences the posture of the pelvic spine. OBJECTIVE: Investigate the influence of two different time periods
of passive static stretching on the flexibility of the hamstring. METHODS: Forty-six physiotherapy students were divided into two
groups performing stretching exercises: 30 s and 60 s duration. The
collections consisted of: (1) pre-test: evaluation of the flexibility of the
hip and knee, using a manual goniometer by means of the following tests:
Straight Leg Raise Test (SLR), Passive Hip Flexion Test (PHFT) and Modified
Knee Extension Test (MKET), (2) intervention: stretching with different
runtimes, (3) post-test: reappraisal of flexibility, conducted immediately
after the intervention. RESULTS: Significant difference was observed intra groups, group
that did stretching exercises lasting 30 seconds (G30) (SLR p = 0.000. PHFT
p = 0.003 and MKET p = 0.000) and group that did stretching exercises
lasting 60 seconds (G60) (SLR p = 0.000. PHFT p = 0.001 and MKET p =
0.002). Comparing the groups, no significant difference was found (SLR
p = 0.307; PHFT p = 0.904; MKET p = 0.132). CONCLUSION: Thus it can be inferred that 30 seconds are sufficient
for increased flexibility of young women. Therefore the time-treatment
sessions can be optimized. Only the acute effect of stretching was observed;
further investigation of the long-term effect is required.
Keywords: Lower extremity, muscle stretching exercises, range of motion, rehabilitation
