• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.1834-1839
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• 2019

Background: Lumbar lordosis is a result of muscle shortening and may cause low back pain. Objective: To examine the effects of static and dynamic stretching on lumbar lordosis and low back pain in university students. Stretching is an intervention that can be applied to shortened muscles; however, very few studies have compared the effects of static and dynamic stretching on lumbar lordosis and low back pain. Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial (single-blind) Methods: The 12 selected subjects were randomly assigned static stretching and dynamic stretching groups each containing six students. The subjects in each group performed their respective stretching programs for 17 minutes, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Lumbar lordotic angle, low back pain, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were measured before and after the intervention. Results: Intragroup comparisons showed significant reductions in lumbar lordotic angle and low back pain in the static stretching group while the dynamic stretching group showed significant decreases in lumbar lordotic angle, low back pain, and ODI. The intergroup comparisons showed significantly greater differences between pre- and post-intervention in lumbar lordotic angle and low back pain in the dynamic stretching group compared to those in the static stretching group while ODI did not show any intergroup difference. Conclusions: The results of this study indicated that, while both static and dynamic stretching helped to reduce the lumbar lordotic angle and low back pain, dynamic stretching was more effective in alleviating lumbar lordotic angle and low back pain compared to static stretching.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.1461-1467
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether static stretching or Thera-band stretching of hamstrings is more effective in improving the flexibility of hamstrings. A total of 40 participants performed stretching 3 times a week for 4 weeks, and a sitting trunk flexion meter was used to measure the flexibility of the hamstrings. Differences in hamstring flexibility before and after the application of static and Thera-band stretching were analyzed, and differences between the stretching methods were also analyzed. As a result, hamstring flexibility increased significantly after the static stretching program (p=.000), and also increased significantly after the Thera-band stretching program (p=.000). Although both programs were effective in improving hamstring flexibility, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (p=.058). Therefore, static stretching and Thera-band stretching are effective interventions to improve and maintain hamstring flexibility.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.341-349
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of soleus muscle stretching on the muscle thickness and muscle tone of the tibialis anterior and peroneus longus muscles in healthy young adults. Methods: This study was an observational, cross-sectional study design in healthy young adults. Thirty healthy young adults participated in the study. To investigate the effect of agonist elongation on the muscles' antagonist and synergist characteristics, this study conducted the dynamic stretching of the soleus and plantarflexor muscles for 20 seconds. This study measured the muscle thickness and muscle tone of the soleus, tibialis anterior and peroneus longus muscles before stretching, immediately after stretching, and five minutes after stretching. Results: After analysis, the muscle tone of the soleus muscle was significantly decreased immediately after stretching (20.91±2.61Hz) compared to before stretching (21.83±2.78Hz). The muscle tone of the tibialis anterior was significantly decreased both immediately after stretching (21.76±2.73Hz) and five minutes after stretching (21.72±3.25Hz) compared to before stretching (22.61±3.29Hz). The muscle thickness of the soleus muscle was significantly decreased immediately after stretching (2.04±0.52mm) compared to before stretching (2.21±0.51mm) and was significantly increased five minutes after stretching (2.14±0.49mm) compared to immediately after stretching. Conclusion: The results of this study showed the static stretching of the soleus muscle changed the muscle tone of the tibialis anterior, but not of the peroneus longus muscle. This study suggests that the dynamic stretching of the agonist muscle would show meaningful muscle tone change in the antagonist.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.19-27
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study examined which stretching exercise had the most positive effect on increasing the range of motion (ROM) of the knee joint in healthy people and whether there was a difference between continuous stretching and intermittent stretching. METHODS: This study included 30 healthy university students from OOO University. The subjects were asked to sit on a mat and perform hamstring-stretching exercise during which the ROM and muscle tone were measured with pre and post-tests. Each subject was assigned randomly to a continuous stretching group (stretching without relaxation time group, n=10, G1) or intermittent stretching group (stretching with 10s relaxing time group, n=10, G2; and stretching with 20s relaxing time group, n=10, G3). The participants conducted hamstring stretching exercises with a sit-and-reach box at three different rest times (0s, 10s, and 20s). Subsequently, they underwent passive knee extension (PKE) tests, in which the ROM of the knee joint was measured with a goniometer, and the muscle tone was evaluated using a MyotonPro. RESULTS: Significant differences in muscle tone, stiffness, and ROM were observed between pre-test and post-test in each groups (p<.05). Although the post hoc tests indicated no significant differences in muscle tone and ROM between the continuous stretching group and intermittent stretching group (p>.05), the rate of change of the ROM showed that the intermittent stretching group developed more effective maintenance of the hamstring flexibility. CONCLUSION: No significant differences in the muscle tone of the hamstring and ROM of the knee joint were observed according to the hamstring stretching exercises with three different rest times. On the other hand, the rate of change of the ROM showed that intermittent stretching maintained the hamstring flexibility more effectively.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.30-37
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• 2020

Background: To prevent or reduce the risk of strain injury, various approaches, including stretching techniques are currently being used. The effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and static stretching on flexibility has been demonstrated; however, it is not clear which one is superior. Objects: This study aimed to evaluate the differences between the effects of PNF and static stretching performed at various intensities on muscle flexibility. Methods: The maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of the hamstrings using the PNF stretching technique was performed in the P100 group, while 70% of the MVIC was performed in the P70 group. The MVIC value obtained during the PNF stretching in both groups was used as a reference for setting the intensity of static stretching. Static stretching was performed at 130% (S130), 100% (S100), and 70% of the MVIC (S70). The active knee extension (AKE) values, defined as the knee flexion angle were measured before stretching (baseline), immediately after stretching (post), and at 3 minutes, 6 minutes, and 15 minutes. Results: PNF stretching produce a greater improvement in flexibility compared with static stretching. Specifically, the ΔAKE was significantly higher in the S100 and S70 groups than in the P100 group at Post. In the comparison of ΔAKE over time in each group, the ΔAKE at Post showed a significant decrease compared to the value at Baseline in the S130 group; however, no significant difference was observed at 6 minutes while a significant increase was noted at 15 minutes. Conclusion: This study found that PNF stretching is more effective than static stretching with respect to increasing and maintaining the flexibility of muscles. In addition, the increase in flexibility at maximal intensity was similar to that observed at submaximal intensity during both PNF and static stretching.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.43-50
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Evjenth-Hamberg stretching on the active range of motion (ROM) of the hip joint and the pennation angle of the semitendinosus muscle. Eighty healthy adults participated in this study. The active ROM of the hip joint was measured by a goniometer and the pennation angle of the semitendinosus muscle was measured by ultrasonographic imaging (USI). Both ROM and pennation angle were recorded before and after the static stretching and the Evjenth-Hamberg stretching, respectively. Data were analyzed using paired t-lest and independent t-test at p<.05. The results were as follows: 1) The active ROM of the hip joint increased significantly after both stretching interventions compared with the baseline (p<.001). However, the active ROM of the hip joint increased significantly in Evjenth-Hamberg stretching compared with static stretching. 2) The pennation angle decreased significantly after both stretching interventions compared with the baseline (p<.001). However, the pennation angle decreased significantly in Evjenth-Hamberg stretching compared with static stretching. 3) Reliability data showed that there was a high consistency in USl measurements (ICC=.978). Our findings suggest that the Evjenth-Hamberg stretching was more effective than static stretching in increasing the active ROM of the hip joint and decreasing the pennation angle of the semitendinosus muscle.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.423-440
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to investigate the conception and developmental process of stretching in sports physical therapy. This study is to find conception of stretching, feature and effect, principles and fundamental rule, consideration of enforcement and developmental process in order to use the basic material which is very helpful in the every field and the scene of sports needing stretching. Flexibility is the ability to move muscles and joints through their full ranges of motion. Flexibility is developed by stretching. About player who insufficiency of flexibility, patient and disabled person who restrict of range of motion, older adult who reduce of flexibility, promote of flexibility for upgrading stability and efficiency of body on the based of scientific principles is completed by stretching. The method of stretching has been developed with passive stretching, CR, PNF stretching, PIC stretching, MET stretching in the order. The effects that we can get through stretching are as follows : 1. Enhance physical fitness. 2. Optimize learning, practice and performance of many types of skilled movement. 3. Increase mental and physical relaxation. 4. Promote development of body awareness. 5. Reduce risk of joint sprain or muscle strain. 6. Reduce risk of back problem. 7 Reduce muscular soreness. 8. Reduce the severity of painful menstruation for female athletes. 9. Reduce muscular tension. 10. Advance recognition of body.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.37-42
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study is to suggest the basic materials for proposing effective and efficient methods when stretching by measuring isokinetic muscular strength according to static, dynamic and PNF stretching. Methods: This study was conducted on 45 healthy persons (male and female) in their twenties who are attending universities. The subjects are randomly divided into three (3) groups, and static stretching is applied in group 1, dynamic stretching is applied in group 2 and PNF stretching is applied in group 3. After carrying out static, dynamic and PNF stretching, peak torque was measured using isokinetic muscular strength measurement. Results: According to the results, at $60^{\circ}$/sec and $180^{\circ}$/sec isokinetic peak torque of the knee joint according to types of stretching, the largest changes were shown in Group 2 extension and flexion, and the least changes were shown in Group 1. There were significant differences among the three groups (p<0.05), and the result of after-analysis by LSD showed that there were significant differences between Groups 1 and 2, and Groups 1 and 3 (p<0.05). Conclusion: The intention of this study was to determine the peak torque using Cybex after applying three stretching methods to hamstring muscles, and the case of dynamic and PNF stretching was found to be more significant in both the $60^{\circ}$/sec and $180^{\circ}$/sec angular speeds than that of static stretching. Using the results of such studies, if dynamic and PNF stretching are applied together with warming-up before performing sports, the risk of suffering wounds would reduce and the exactness of sports would increase.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching, based on ballistic stretching and the contract-relax technique, on hip joint flexibility and muscle tone in adults with shortened rectus femoris muscles. Methods: The study involved 40 adults with shortened rectus femoris muscles, identified using the modified Thomas test. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: PNF stretching, employing the contract-relax technique, and ballistic stretching. Measurements included muscle tension, hip joint range of motion, and muscle characteristics. The rectus femoris muscle shortening effect was confirmed by the modified Thomas test, while the flexibility effect was assessed through hip joint motion range. The muscle tension effect was determined using Myoton-PRO. Results: Both stretching methods resulted in significant improvements in modified Thomas test angles and frequency, with the PNF stretching group showing notably greater changes. However, neither stretching method significantly affected decrement or stiffness measurements. These findings suggest that PNF stretching may be more effective for certain outcomes compared to ballistic stretching. Conclusion: In summary, both stretching methods positively influenced flexibility and muscle tension, with PNF stretching showing a greater impact. These findings highlight the importance of selecting the appropriate stretching technique for achieving functional improvements in muscles, which could serve as valuable indicators for preventing and treating muscle injuries in both sports and daily activities.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.47-53
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• 2022

In order to conduct a study on the importance of the wrist joint, which causes a lot of pain among middle-aged people, in relation to work related to musculoskeletal disorders, the effect of stretching on grasping power was studied. In order to compare the grasping power of the wrist for middle-aged people in their 50s, the experiment was conducted by comparing before and after the wrist joint motion stretching. According to the experimental results of wrist gripping power for the control group and the experiment group on wrist gripping power, it was investigated that stretching did not change much in increasing wrist gripping power, but stretching application had an effect on wrist gripping power. In terms of preventing musculoskeletal accidents, reducing pain due to degenerative diseases, and preventing accidents, stretching seems to have an effect when approaching, so it is considered that continuous stretching before and after work is necessary. Therefore, it is suggested that stretching time secured quantitatively through safety and health education before work is necessary.