Comparison of active stretching technique in males with normal and limited hamstring flexibility

Objective: (1) to analyse the accumulative effects of a 12-week active stretching program on hip flexion passive range of motion (HF-PROM), and (2) to compare whether participants with different PROM baseline scores (normal and limited hamstring flexibility) respond in the same way to stretching. Design: Repeated measures design. Setting: Controlled laboratory environment. Participants: 138 males were categorized according to hamstring flexibility in the unilateral passive straight-leg raise test (PSLR) and assigned to one of two groups: normal hamstring flexibility (>= 80 degrees) or limited hamstring flexibility (<80 degrees). In each group, participants were randomly distributed into one of two treatment subgroups: (a) control or (b) active stretching. The active stretching subgroups performed 12 weeks of flexibility training, the control subgroups did not stretch. Main Outcome Measures: HF-PROM was determined through the PSLR test. Results: Both stretching subgroups significantly improved (p < 0.01) their HF-PROM from baseline. The control subgroups did not. Conclusions: 12 weeks of an active stretching program performed 3 days per week with a daily stretch dose of 180 s improved HF-PROM in both populations (normal and limited hamstring flexibility). The stretching program was equally effective in terms of absolute improvement values for males with normal and limited hamstring flexibility. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.