Flexibility and passive stretching: Comparison between protocol with and without interval between repetitions

Abstract

Summary: Stretching is performed in many ways with the purpose of increasing flexibility being one of the resources used by physiotherapists. Objective: To evaluate and compare the effects of passive stretching protocols with interval between repetitions with no interval between repetitions in the range of motion gain of acute and chronic form. Methodology: Ten female physiotherapy students participated on this research, randomly divided in two groups: G1 (group without interval between the repetitions of passive stretching); G2 (group with interval between the repetitions of passive stretching). The protocol consists on the evaluation of the angle popliteal. Each procedure was repeated three times in a row, being a pre-intervention measurement followed by a new one right after the stretching protocol, and another, as a follow up, after two weeks. Results: It was possible to testify on the present study that both groups obtained an acute and chronic gain of flexibility. The volunteers in G1 presented a tendency to an immediate and greater gain of flexibility than those G2. When it comes to the evaluation of gain of chronic flexibility, the same characteristic was observed, since the volunteers of both protocols presented intragroup improvement, however, there has not been a significant difference when evaluated which group obtained better development. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that both muscular stretching protocols used can influence a gain in flexibility which, in spite of being significant in relation to the intragroup acute and chronic difference, the same did not happen when compared between groups.