Ryan, Eric D; Beck, Travis W; Herda, Trent J; Hull, Holly R; Hartman, Michael J; Stout, Jeffery R; Cramer, Joel T
The purpose of this study was to examine the time course (immediate, 10, 20, and 30 min) for the acute effects of passive stretching on several different outcome measures for the plantarflexors. Thirteen volunteers participated in four randomly ordered experimental trials: control (CON) with no stretching, 2 min, 4 min, and 8 min of passive stretching. Testing was conducted before, immediately after and at 10, 20, and 30 min poststretching.
Practical durations of stretching (2, 4, or 8 min) of the plantarflexors did not decrease isometric peak torquecompared with the control but caused temporary improvements in the ROM, thereby questioning the overall detrimental influence of passive stretching on performance.
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2008, 40(8), 1529-1537