Identifier

etd-04042012-082959

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Kinesiology

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the acute effects of stretching on pennation angle of the Medial Gastrocnemius and maximal voluntary isotonic plantar flexion. METHODS: 24 healthy college age subjects (14 female, 10 male, age 19-30) completed four trials using a randomized crossover design. Trials consisted of assessing the maximal voluntary isotonic contraction (MVC) and pennation angle (PA) before and after each treatment. Treatments consisted of either stretching (S) or mock stretching (MS). The S treatment involved four 30 second periods of stretching with 15 seconds of rest in between. During the MS treatment subjects were maintained in the same relative position as the S treatment, but were not stretched. RESULTS: There were no significant changes observed in PA from pre to post measurements, though during stretch PA was significantly reduced (p≤0.05). MVC was significantly reduced in the S treatments (p≤0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Stretching had little lasting effect on PA, while MVC was significantly reduced. This finding indicates PA is likely not strongly linked to the MVC reductions observed following stretching.

Date

2012

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Nelson, Arnold

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.2322

Download

Included in

Kinesiology Commons

Share

COinS