Davis, J. E., & MacConnell, T. D. (2007). Acute effects of static and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation stretching on muscle strength and range of motion. ACSM Annual Meeting New Orleans, Presentation Number, 2575.

This study compared the acute effects of 2-minute static and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching protocols on quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength and knee joint range of motion. Ss (N = 8) participated in three different conditions: control, static stretching, and modified PNF stretching. Knee range of motion, peak isokinetic torque at 30°/s and 180°/s, and maximal voluntary isometric strength at 60° were measured in the control condition. In the two experimental conditions, knee range of motion was measured before the protocol. After stretching, knee range of motion, peak isokinetic torque and maximal voluntary isometric strength were recorded. In all conditions, surface EMG signals were recorded for the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris muscles during the isokinetic and isometric tests.

There was a significant decrease in peak isokinetic torque at 30°/s during extension following static stretching and a significant difference in peak isokinetic torque at 180°/s between static and PNF stretching during both extension and flexion. There were no stretching-induced changes in isometric strength.

Implication. Short-duration static stretching appears to have a detrimental effect on muscle strength, particularly in relation to proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching. However, short-duration proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching has no detrimental effect on strength.

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