The Acute Effects of Static and PNF Stretching Exercise With Blood Flow Restriction in Athletes

The Acute Effects of Static and PNF Stretching Exercise With Blood Flow Restriction on Hamstring Flexibility, Muscle Strength and Single Leg Hop in Athletes : A Randomized Controlled Trial

The study aims to examine the acute effects of static and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching exercises with blood flow restriction on hamstring flexibility, muscle strength, and single leg hop in athletes. Outcome measures were hip range of motion, isometric and eccentric hamstring muscle strength, and single leg hop distance.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Athletes
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Static stretching; Other: PNF stretching; Other: Static stretching with BFR; Other: PNF stretching with BFR; Other: Control

Detailed Description

A total of 109 athletes were included in the study. Participants were randomized into five groups: (1) static stretching, (2) proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching, (3) blood flow restriction (BFR) + static stretching, (4) BFR + PNF stretching, and (5) control groups. Stretching exercises were performed on the dominant leg hamstring muscle group for 3 sets of 15 seconds each. BFR was applied during the stretching to the blood flow restriction (BFR) + static stretching and BFR + PNF stretching groups. No stretching was applied to the control group.

Assessments were performed at baseline and immediately after stretching. Hamstring flexibility (hip joint range of motion) was assessed via the passive straight leg raise test. Isometric and eccentric hamstring muscle strength were measured using a hand-held dynamometer, and muscle power was assessed using the single leg hop distance.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 109
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Balcova
    • İzmir, Balcova, Turkey, 35330
      • Dokuz Eylul University, Sports Medicine Department

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 18-40 years old
• Engaged in regular physical activity for at least 8 hours a week for the last 6 months
• Body mass index (BMI) < than 30 kg/m²
• Momentary blood pressure less than 135/85 mmHg

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of fractures or surgical operations involving the lower limbs, hips, or lumbar region
• history of fractures, surgeries and other diagnosed medical conditions on the lower extremity, hip, and lumbar region
• Systemic musculoskeletal disease
• Pain in the lower back, hips, or lower extremities
• Known hip deformity or diagnosis of scoliosis
• History of deep vein thrombosis or embolism
• Diagnosis of circulatory system diseases such as hypertension or peripheral vascular disease
• History of anemia
• Previous cerebrovascular disease or myocardial infarction.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

5

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Static stretching; Static stretching exercises were performed on the dominant leg's hamstring muscle group for 3 sets of 15 seconds.	Other: Static stretching; Static stretching exercises were performed on the dominant leg's hamstring muscle group for 3 sets of 15 seconds
Active Comparator: PNF stretching; PNF stretching exercises were performed on the dominant leg's hamstring muscle group for 3 sets of 15 seconds.	Other: PNF stretching; PNF stretching exercises were performed on the dominant leg's hamstring muscle group for 3 sets of 15 seconds.
Experimental: Static stretching with BFR; Static stretching exercises were performed on the dominant leg's hamstring muscle group for 3 sets of 15 seconds with BFR application.	Other: Static stretching with BFR; Static stretching exercises were performed on the dominant leg's hamstring muscle group for 3 sets of 15 seconds with BFR application.
Experimental: PNF stretching with BFR; PNF stretching exercises were performed on the dominant leg's hamstring muscle group for 3 sets of 15 seconds with BFR application	Other: PNF stretching with BFR; PNF stretching exercises were performed on the dominant leg's hamstring muscle group for 3 sets of 15 seconds with BFR application.
Other: Control; No stretching was applied to the control group. An information brochure about hamstring injuries was provided to the participants.	Other: Control; No stretching was applied to the control group. An information brochure about hamstring injuries was provided to the participants.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
hamstring flexibility	Passive straight leg rise test for dominant leg	immediately after intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Power	single leg hop distance for dominant and non-dominant leg	immediately after intervention
muscle strength	isometric and eccentric hamstring muscle strength of the dominant leg	immediately after intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Dokuz Eylul University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ayse Birsu Topcugil Kirik, MD, Dokuz Eylül University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 20, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 25, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): August 25, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 19, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 22, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): October 24, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 24, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 22, 2024
• Last Verified: October 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: blood flow restriction, stretching, flexibility, hamstring
• Other Study ID Numbers: 5016-GOA

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