Acute effects of static stretching and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on non-local range of movement

• Published in: Research in sports medicine 2024-11, Vol.32 (6), p.1015-1027
• Main Authors: Ficarra, Salvatore, Scardina, Antonino, Nakamura, Masatoshi, Patti, Antonino, Şahin, Fatma Neşe, Palma, Antonio, Bellafiore, Marianna, Bianco, Antonino, Thomas, Ewan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Female; hamstring; Hamstring Muscles - physiology; Humans; Male; Muscle Stretching Exercises - physiology; myofascial chains; Proprioception - physiology; range of motion; Range of Motion, Articular - physiology; short term; Stretch; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1543-8627; 1543-8635; 1543-8635
• DOI: 10.1080/15438627.2024.2326520

Acute effects of static stretching (SS) and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on local and non-local range of motion (ROM) were assessed in 29 participants. Three evaluations were performed one week apart: week-1 Control session (CS); weeks 2-3 either SS or PNF interventions (randomized). Dominant and non-dominant limbs, local (hamstring extensibility) and non-local ROMs (Shoulder extension-ShE) were collected at baseline (T0), immediately after (T1), and fifteen minutes post-intervention (T2). No differences were found between time-points during the CS. Local-ROM significantly increased (p=0.0002, ES=0.74 and 0.0079, 0.56, for dominant and non-dominant lower limbs, respectively) after both SS and PNF. No interaction between time and treatment was detected for ShE in both limbs. However, post-hoc analysis revealed a significant increase in dominant upper limb ShE between T0 and T1 only after SS (p=0.002; +6.5%). Acute bouts of SS and PNF can increase local-ROM, however, no clear effects were observed for non-local ROM.