Effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching on stiffness and force-producing characteristics of the ankle in active women

Rees, SS; Murphy, AJ; Watsford, ML; McLachlan, KA; Coutts, AJ

Effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching on stiffness and force-producing characteristics of the ankle in active women

Rees, SS Murphy, AJ Watsford, ML

McLachlan, KA Coutts, AJ

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2007, 21 (2), pp. 572 - 577
Issue Date:: 2007-05-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Rees, SS	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Murphy, AJ	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Watsford, ML https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4569-6377	en_US
dc.contributor.author	McLachlan, KA	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Coutts, AJ https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1782-7691	en_US
dc.date.issued	2007-05-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2007, 21 (2), pp. 572 - 577	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1064-8011	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/4453
dc.description.abstract	Rees, S.S., A.J. Murphy, M.L. Watsford, K.A. McLachlan, and A.J. Coutts. Effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching on stiffness and force-producing characteristics of the ankle in active women. J. Strength Cond. Res. 21(2):572-577. 2007. - The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching on musculotendinous unit (MTU) stiffness of the ankle joint. Twenty active women were assessed for maximal ankle range of motion, maximal strength of planter flexors, rate of force development, and ankle MTU stiffness. Subjects were randomly allocated into an experimental (n = 10) group or control group (n = 10). The experimental group performed PNF stretching on the ankle joint 3 times per week for 4 weeks, with physiological testing performed before and after the training period. After training, the experimental group significantly increased ankle range of motion (7.8%), maximal isometric strength (26%), rate of force development (25%), and MTU stiffness (8.4%) (p < 0.001). Four weeks of PNF stretching contributed to an increase in MTU stiffness, which occurred concurrently with gains to ankle joint range of motion. The results confirm that MTU stiffness and joint range of motion measurements appear to be separate entities. The increased MTU stiffness after the training period is explained by adaptations to maximal isometric muscle contractions, which were a component of PNF stretching. Because a stiffer MTU system is linked with an improved the ability to store and release elastic energy, PNF stretching would benefit certain athletic performance due to a reduced contraction time or greater mechanical efficiency. The results of this study suggest PNF stretching is a useful modality at increasing a joint's range of motion and its strength. © 2007 National Strength & Conditioning Association.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1519/R-20175.1	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Sport Sciences	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Muscle, Skeletal	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Ankle Joint	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Tendons	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Range of Motion, Articular	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Analysis of Variance	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Proprioception	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Isometric Contraction	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Biomechanical Phenomena	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Elasticity	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Physical Education and Training	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Stress, Mechanical	en_US
dc.title	Effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching on stiffness and force-producing characteristics of the ankle in active women	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	21	en_US
utslib.for	110601 Biomechanics	en_US
utslib.for	1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	1116 Medical Physiology	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Business
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Sports and Exercise Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHT - Health Technologies
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	2	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	21	en_US

Abstract:

Rees, S.S., A.J. Murphy, M.L. Watsford, K.A. McLachlan, and A.J. Coutts. Effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching on stiffness and force-producing characteristics of the ankle in active women. J. Strength Cond. Res. 21(2):572-577. 2007. - The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching on musculotendinous unit (MTU) stiffness of the ankle joint. Twenty active women were assessed for maximal ankle range of motion, maximal strength of planter flexors, rate of force development, and ankle MTU stiffness. Subjects were randomly allocated into an experimental (n = 10) group or control group (n = 10). The experimental group performed PNF stretching on the ankle joint 3 times per week for 4 weeks, with physiological testing performed before and after the training period. After training, the experimental group significantly increased ankle range of motion (7.8%), maximal isometric strength (26%), rate of force development (25%), and MTU stiffness (8.4%) (p < 0.001). Four weeks of PNF stretching contributed to an increase in MTU stiffness, which occurred concurrently with gains to ankle joint range of motion. The results confirm that MTU stiffness and joint range of motion measurements appear to be separate entities. The increased MTU stiffness after the training period is explained by adaptations to maximal isometric muscle contractions, which were a component of PNF stretching. Because a stiffer MTU system is linked with an improved the ability to store and release elastic energy, PNF stretching would benefit certain athletic performance due to a reduced contraction time or greater mechanical efficiency. The results of this study suggest PNF stretching is a useful modality at increasing a joint's range of motion and its strength. © 2007 National Strength & Conditioning Association.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/4453