Remote Effects of Lower Limb Stretching

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Randomized Controlled Trial; Fascia; Stretching; Myofascial

• Registration Number: NCT02564081
• Lead Sponsor: Goethe University

Brief Summary

Recent research suggests that the skeletal muscles and the fibrous connective tissue form a body-wide network of myofascial chains. A systematic analysis of dissection studies suggests that fascia links at least a variety of muscles to myofascial chains (Wilke et al. 2015). As fascia can modify its stiffness, strain transmission along these meridians is supposable (Norton-Old et al. 2013). Tensile transmission along myofascial chains might contribute to the proper functioning of the movement system. However, despite solid evidence from in vitro studies, scarce data is available concerning the in vivo behavior of the meridians. The present study is conducted to resolve this research deficit and to elucidate whether stretching of the lower limb muscles increases neck mobility. Healthy subjects (n = 3 x 20) participate in the randomized controlled trial. One group performs three 30 s bouts of static stretching for the gastrocnemius and the hamstrings respectively. A control group remains inactive for the same time. Participants of the third group perform 6x30 s bouts of static stretching of the cervical spine in zhe sagittal plane (flexion only). Pre and post intervention as well as 5 min after the intervention, maximal cervical range of motion (ROM) in flexion/extension, lateral flexion and rotation was assessed using an ultrasonic movement analysis system.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-08
• Study First Submitted: 2015-09-29
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-09-29
• Study First Posted: 2015-09-30
• Primary Completion: 2015-11
• Study Completion: 2015-12
• Status Verified: 2016-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-02-01
• Last Update Posted: 2016-02-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 63

Inclusion Criteria

• healthy participants after subscribing informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

• severe orthopedic, cardiovascular, neurological, psychiatric or endocrine diseases, not completely healed traumata, drug intake in the past 48 hours, pregnancy and presence of muscle soreness.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Maximal cervical range of motion in flexion/extension	2 min.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Maximal cervical range of motion in lateral flexion	2 min.
Maximal cervical range of motion in rotation	2 min.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Sports Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt/Main; 🇩🇪 Frankfurt/Main, Hessen, Germany