Quantitative evaluation of the effects of several weeks of static stretching on the flexibility of the rectus femoris using shear wave elastography: a before–after study
Bungo Ebihara
Profilo Orcid, Hayato Miyasaka
- Department of Rehabilitation, Tsuchiura Kyodo General HospitalTsuchiura, Japan
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health SciencesAmi, Japan
Profilo Orcid, Takashi Fukaya
Profilo Orcid e Hirotaka Mutsuzaki
- Center for Medical Science, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health SciencesAmi, Japan
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences HospitalAmi, Japan
Profilo Orcid 
Categoria dell'articolo: Research Paper
Pubblicato online: 30 nov 2024
Pagine: 1 - 6
Ricevuto: 28 feb 2024
Accettato: 05 giu 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15557/jou.2024.0025
Parole chiave
© 2024 Bungo Ebihara et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Aim
The study aimed to quantitatively clarify the effects of several weeks of static stretching on the flexibility of the rectus femoris muscle using shear wave elastography.
Material and methods
Fifteen healthy men (age: 26.4 ± 2.2 years) were instructed to perform 5 min of voluntary static stretching of their right rectus femoris muscles five times a week for four weeks. The participants adjusted their stretching inrectus femoris muscle tensity to a point immediately before experiencing discomfort or pain. The Young’s modulus of the rectus femoris muscle and the knee-flexion range of motion were measured as indicators of flexibility. The Young’s modulus was measured using shear wave elastography. Measurements were performed at baseline, as well as at two and four weeks after the stretching program started. A generalized linear mixed model was used to assess the change in the Young’s modulus after the stretching program and the effects of the Young’s modulus on the knee-flexion range of motion.
Results
The Young’s modulus of the rectus femoris muscle decreased after two and four weeks of stretching compared with the baseline (
Conclusions
Shear wave elastography quantitatively revealed that several weeks of static stretching increased the flexibility of the rectus femoris muscle in healthy men. A four-week static stretching regimen reduced the Young’s modulus of the rectus femoris muscle and increased the knee-flexion range of motion.