Effect of stretching on ankle and knee angles and gastrocnemius activity during the stance phase of gait

Journal of Sport Rehabilitation
Marie A JohansonThomas A Abelew

Abstract

Stretching exercises are commonly prescribed for patients and healthy individuals with limited extensibility of the gastrocnemius muscle. To determine effects of gastrocnemius stretching on ankle dorsiflexion, knee extension, and gastrocnemius muscle activity during gait. Randomized-control trial. Biomechanical laboratory. Sixteen volunteers (9 men and 7 women, mean age = 27 y) with less than 5 degrees of passive ankle-dorsiflexion range of motion randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. The experimental group performed gastrocnemius stretching for 3 wk. Maximum ankle dorsiflexion, maximum knee extension, and EMG amplitude of the gastrocnemius muscles were measured between heel strike and heel-off before and after intervention. No significant effect of group or time was found on maximum ankle dorsiflexion, maximum knee extension, or EMG activity of the medial or lateral gastrocnemius muscles between heel strike and heel-off. The experimental group had significantly greater passive ankle-dorsiflexion range of motion bilaterally at posttest than the control group. Stretching did not alter joint angles or gastrocnemius muscle activity in the early to midstance phase of gait.

Citations

Mar 9, 2017·Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association·Min-Hyeok Kang, Jae-Seop Oh
May 23, 2015·Journal of Physical Therapy Science·Young-Ki ChoOh-Yun Kwon
Nov 15, 2013·Journal of Foot and Ankle Research·Rebekah YoungLloyd Reed
Sep 9, 2015·Frontiers in Psychology·Nikos ApostolopoulosMatthew A Wyon
Mar 13, 2018·Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation·Ji-Hyun LeeTae-Woo Kang

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