Effects of Stretching Types on Gastrocnemius

Effects of Different Stretching Types on Gastrocnemius Muscle Viscoelastic Properties and Performance

Stretching is the process of positioning certain muscles and related soft tissues of the body in a position that will lengthen them. In addition to increasing the range of motion of stretching, different stretching on many functional (maximum isometric torque, muscle-tendon stiffness, passive-resistive torque, viscoelastic deformation) or structural parameters (muscle stiffness, tendon stiffness, muscle fascicle length, pennation angle, neuromuscular relaxation) We can make changes using methods.

Static stretching usually involves actively or passively moving a limb to the full range of motion, holding this stretched position for 15-60 seconds, and then repeating it 2-4 times. Dynamic stretching encompasses all body movements and involves actively moving the active joints through the range of motion in a controlled manner. PNF stretching is known to be more effective than other stretching techniques as it increases both passive and active flexibility and improves joint range of motion in the short term.

The appropriate evaluation of muscle characteristics and keeping a regular record are very important for the course of rehabilitation, clinical decisions, the creation of an appropriate treatment plan, and the evaluation of treatment practices. Objective evaluation methods are needed to measure the functional state of the muscles, that is, their viscoelastic properties. Myotonometric measurement, which is a painless, objective, and non-invasive measurement method, allows the measurement of muscle tone, elasticity, and stiffness. The myotonometer device is a portable handheld device used to measure the stiffness of soft tissues, including muscles and tendons, using a non-invasive approach. It is a device that is easy to use, fast, and very suitable for the purpose. Based on this information, the aim of our study is to evaluate the effects of different stretching types on gastrocnemius muscle viscoelastic properties and performance.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stretch
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Static Stretching; Other: Dynamic Stretching; Other: PNF Stretching; Other: Sham stretching

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Istanbul, Turkey
    • Istinye University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Be between the ages of 18-45
• Volunteer to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those who have had major surgery or trauma related to the musculoskeletal system, especially the ankle and calf region
• Those with neurological disease
• Those with rheumatic disease in the active period
• Those with systemic diseases (Diabetes, hypothyroidism, infection, malignancy...)
• Those with serious psychological problems (BDI score of 30 and above)
• Those with contraindications to stretching (acute inflammations, viral and bacterial infections, infectious diseases, fever, deep vein thrombosis, active malignant disease, aneurysms)
• Those who received physiotherapeutic intervention in the ankle and calf region in the last 6 months
• Obesity (BMI≥30 kg/m2)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Group 1; Static Stretching	Other: Static Stretching; Participants will be placed in the maximum dorsiflexion position of the ankle of the dominant side lower extremities. At this last point, it will be held in a static position for 30 seconds. A total of 10 repetitions will be done, with 5-10 seconds rest between repetitions.
Experimental: Group 2; Dynamic Stretching	Other: Dynamic Stretching; Participants will be positioned by placing their hands on the edge of the standing wall. They will be asked to try to increase normal ankle motion in a controlled manner using their own body weight. The stretching position will be held for 30 seconds and a total of 10 repetitions will be done. There will be 5-10 seconds rest between repetitions.
Experimental: Group 3; PNF Stretching	Other: PNF Stretching; For the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle, the dominant side lower extremities of the participants will be placed in the extension-adduction-external position. For the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle, the dominant side lower extremities of the participants will be placed in the extension-abduction-internal rotation position. Participants will be asked to actively go as far as they can in the opposite direction from the starting position (flexion-abduction-internal rotation for the lateral head; flexion-adduction-external rotation for the medial head). When the participant returns to the starting position after reaching the final point, the practitioner will apply the hold-relax technique and will be asked to stay in this position for 10 seconds.
Sham Comparator: Group 4; Sham stretching	Other: Sham stretching; Sham stretching will be applied to the calf area. While the participant is lying prone, they will wait 30 seconds in a static position without applying any stretching to the calf area before reaching the end point of the joint range of motion.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Muscle Tone and Stiffness	Muscle tone and stiffness will be evaluated with a myotonometer. The myotonometer was developed for the objective measurement of mechanical muscle properties. Myotonometry reflects the viscoelastic properties of the muscle such as tone and stiffness by creating oscillation in the muscle fiber and is an acceptable and reliable method for measuring the mechanical properties of the muscle in young adults. The device measures muscle tone as the natural oscillation frequency (Hz) calculated as Hz = 1/T; where T is the oscillation time measured in seconds. Muscle stiffness (N/m) is related to the maximum acceleration of oscillation and tissue deformation recorded by the transducer. Myotonometer can measure the firmness of tissues 2 cm below the epidermis.	3 weeks
Forward Jumping Test on One Leg	The One Leg Forward Jumping Test will be used to measure the sudden explosive force and performance of the M.Gastrocnemius muscle. Participants will be asked to jump forward as far as possible on one leg. The measurement will be repeated 3 times bilaterally, and the maximum jumping distance will be recorded in cm.	3 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Joint Range of Motion:	Ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion movements will be measured bilaterally with a digital goniometer. Measurements will be repeated 3 times and the average value will be recorded in degrees.	3 weeks
Isolated Gastrocnemius Shortness Evaluation	The gastrocnemius muscle shortness evaluation of the participants will be done bilaterally while in the supine position with the Silfverskiold method and digital goniometer. The knee joint will be positioned in full extension and 90° flexion, the ankle dorsiflexion will be passive while the subtalar joint is in the neutral position, and the fixed arm of the universal goniometer will be measured on the fibula shaft and the movable arm will be positioned on the fifth metatarsal shaft. The resulting angles will be recorded and evaluated in degrees.	3 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Kubra Koce

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 30, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 30, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): August 8, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 18, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 18, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): May 30, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 9, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 8, 2023
• Last Verified: August 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 22-143

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No