Comparative Dose-Response Study of Stretching On Strength of Proximal (Hamstring) and Distal (Calf) Muscle

Objective: To compare the stretching induced strength changes between the proximal and distal groups of muscles. Methods: Twenty-eight recreationally active male individuals participated in this study. They were assigned into Group A for proximal muscle (hamstring) and group B for distal muscle (calf) with 14 subjects in each group. This study is an experimental trial of self-stretching for 2 minutes (SS2). This stretch duration involved a 30 second stretch and a 20 second relaxation period, intermittently. Maximum Isometric Voluntary Contraction Force (MIVCF) was measured in both groups before (pretest) and immediately after (posttest) stretching. Change in pre-stretching and immediately post-stretching MIVCF was compared between the two groups. Results: Maximum Isometric Voluntary Contraction Force increased with SS2 in the hamstring by 1.31% and in calf muscle, it increased by 2.92%. However, these changes were statistically insignificant between the two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: Shorter stretching (2 minute) increases maximum isometric voluntary contraction force in both muscles but relatively more in the calf.