Differents Intensities of Passive Stretching on ROM, Neuromuscular and Performance in Soccer Players: A Blinded RCT

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Contracture of Muscle, Thigh; Muscle Rigidity; Strain of Hamstring Muscle (Disorder)
• Interventions: Other: Passive static stretch

• Registration Number: NCT03150563
• Lead Sponsor: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Brief Summary

Intensity is a "qualitative" variable of a muscle stretching protocol, which is very little studied due to its inherent characteristic of the individual being stretched. However, it was pointed out as an important factor for ADM gain. To verify the effects of different intensities of static passive stretching on flexibility, neuromuscular and functional performance in soccer athletes.

Detailed Description

It is a randomized, controlled, clinical trial, composed of male subjects, soccer players, randomly divided into 4 groups: Control Group (CG), Experimental Group 1 (GE1), Experimental Group 2 (GE2) And Experimental Group 3 (GE3). Initially, the measurements of flexibility (passive and active), neuromuscular (muscular passive torque, electromyographic activity), and functional (vertical jump and shuttle run test) of non-dominant lower limbs, performed before and immediately after the 1st And 48 hours after the last session. The GC will only be submitted for initial evaluation and final re-evaluation. The experimental groups will undergo a protocol of static passive stretching containing 10 sessions, divided into 3 weekly sessions, with 3 maneuvers of 30 s, but with different intensities (Tolerable Maximum Pain, Maximum No Pain Discomfort, and Stretching Sensation Without Discomfort) Established from a PERFLEX-modified visual scale. Groups with higher static passive stretching intensities (Maximum Tolerable Pain and Maximum Painless Discomfort) are expected to have greater gains in flexibility, with no change in muscle passive torque, electromyographic activity and functional performance, while the intensity of Feeling of Stretching without Discomfort (in a comfort zone) provides a greater decrease of the muscular passive torque, without significant change of the flexibility, in individual athletes of soccer. This work may contribute to the clinical practice of health professionals, since it seeks to improve the elaboration of the clinical prescription of protocols of static passive stretching (whether performed by the individual or not), establishing optimal levels of intensity for a given muscle group.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2017-05
• Study First Submitted: 2017-05-06
• Study Start: 2017-05-09
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-05-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-05-09
• Study First Posted: 2017-05-12
• Last Update Posted: 2017-05-12
• Primary Completion: 2017-09-30
• Study Completion: 2017-11-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

• (1) being male; (2) age range between 18 and 35 years of age; (3) Body Mass Index (BMI) between 19 and 27; (4) be a soccer player with 4 to 5x weekly training; (5) not participating in lower limb stretching programs; (6) no history of injury, trauma, previous surgeries and lower limb disease in the last 6 months; (7) absence of musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory and neurological disorders that prevent the accomplishment of evaluation and treatment protocols; (8) not under the action of drugs that cause muscle relaxation or that may inhibit tonic muscle action (9) present a limitation of WMD (muscular shortening degree) with ischiatibial extensibility of less than 165 degrees of active extension of the knee with the hip Flexed at 90 °.

Exclusion Criteria

• (1) initiate stretching practice involving LLLs in daily activities outside the collection site during the study period; (2) not performing any of the evaluation and / or intervention procedures; (3) discontinuance in participating in the research.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Experimental Group 3	Passive static stretch	GE3 will have the sensation of "MAXIMUM TOLERABLE PAIN" as the as an intensity for the application of the passive stretch protocol.
Experimental Group 2	Passive static stretch	The GE2 will have the feeling of "MAXIMUM DISORDER WITHOUT PAIN" as the as an intensity for the application of the passive stretch protocol.
Experimental Group 1	Passive static stretch	The experimental group 1 will have the sensation of "SENSATION SENSING WITHOUT DESCONFORT" as an intensity for the application of the passive stretch protocol.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Range of motion (ROM)	48 h after intervention	The measurement will be performed in two positions: with hip flexed at 90 ° and with extended leg elevation, using goniometry for measurement.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Electromyographic responses of the hamstring	48 h after intervention	Electromyographic responses of the hamstring muscles in performing knee extension and hip flexion
Passive torque	48 h after intervention	Isokinetic performance evaluation
Pain after stretching session	1 minute after intervention	Measurement from the visual analogue scale of 100 mm.
Functional performance	48 h after intervention	Evaluation of functional performance with measures of vertical jump and shuttle run
Pleasure after stretching program	1 minute after intervention	Each volunteer will be asked shortly after each session what was the pleasure felt in achieving the sensation of stretching, which is indicated by the feeling scale.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte; 🇧🇷 Natal, RN, Brazil