Static stretching duration needed to decrease passive stiffness of hamstring muscle-tendon unit

Abstract

Static stretching (SS) is widely used to decrease and retain the passive stiffness of the muscle-tendon unit in clinical and athletic settings. It is important to consider the minimum SS duration required to decrease the passive stiffness of the hamstring, from the perspective of injury prevention of the hamstring muscle. The purpose of this study was to investigate the time course of the effect of static stretching (SS) on passive stiffness of the hamstring and to clarify the minimum SS duration required to decrease the passive stiffness. Fifteen healthy males participated in this study. Fifteen healthy and non-athlete male volunteers participated in this study. SS of 60-s session was performed for five sessions with a 30-s rest between sessions. Passive stiffness was measured prior to SS (PRE) and immediately after each SS session to determine the minimum SS duration required to decrease the passive stiffness. The passive stiffness was calculated as the slope of the torque-angle curve corresponding to 50% of the final angle (Nm/°). Passive stiffness after 180, 240, and 300 s of SS was significantly lower than that at PRE. Our results showed that SS for >180 s is recommended to decrease the passive stiffness of the hamstring muscle.