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Barbosa, GM, Trajano, GS, Dantas, GAF, Silva, BR, and Vieira, WHB. Chronic effects of static and dynamic stretching on hamstrings eccentric strength and functional performance: A randomized controlled trial. J Strength Cond Res 34(7): 2031–2039, 2020—The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of static or dynamic stretching training program on hamstrings eccentric peak torque and functional performance. Forty-five active healthy men were randomly allocated into 3 groups (n = 15 per group): no stretching (control), static stretching (3 sets of 30 seconds), and dynamic stretching (3 sets of 30 repetitions). Static and dynamic stretching protocols on the hamstring muscles were performed 3 times a week until complete 10 sessions. Isokinetic knee flexor eccentric peak torque (60°·s−1), triple hop distance, and modified 20-m sprint time were assessed in a random order before and after stretching training. A mixed-design analysis of variance was performed, with an alpha level of 0.05. There was a significant decrease of eccentric peak torque (p ≤ 0.0001, −15.4 ± 10.4%, within-group effect size: 1.03) after static stretching training. The static stretching training reduced eccentric torque when compared with no stretching (−7.6 ± 21.7%, between-group effect size: 0.50) and dynamic stretching (−7.8 ± 29.8%, between-group effect size: 0.51). Moreover, the reached distance on triple hop test was also reduced after static stretching protocol (p = 0.009, −3.7 ± 4.1%, within-group effect size: 0.29). These findings suggest that static stretching training is sufficient to produce meaningful reductions on hamstrings eccentric torque and functional performance. Based on the results of this study, caution should be taken when prescribing of static stretching training in isolation when the purpose is to improve performance, and indirectly, to prevent hamstring strain injuries due to its possible negative effects on hopping performance and knee flexor eccentric torque.

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IntroductionStudies have indicated that hip and knee muscle strengthening are effective in reducing pain, improving self-reported function and increasing lower limb strength, without, however, decreasing knee joint overload during gait in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Recent research has shown that strengthening the foot-ankle muscles improved function in diabetic patients and reduced patellofemoral pain. The aim of this paper is to investigate whether an 8-week therapeutic foot-ankle exercise programme improves pain, functionality, foot strength, foot kinematics and knee joint overload during gait, and decreases medication intake in individuals with KOA.Methods and analysisThis two-arm, prospectively registered, randomised controlled trial with blinded assessors will involve 88 patients with medial tibiofemoral osteoarthritis. Subjects will be randomly allocated to a control group that will receive no specific foot intervention and will follow treatment recommended by the medical team; or an intervention group that will undergo an 8-week physiotherapist-supervised strengthening programme for extrinsic and intrinsic foot muscles, three times a week. The primary outcome will be the pain domain of the Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). The secondary outcomes include WOMAC stiffness and function domains, total WOMAC score, physical function, foot muscle isometric strength, foot kinematics and knee kinetics during gait, and medication intake. Data will be analysed on intention-to-treat principles and a per protocol basis.Ethics and disseminationInvestigators and sponsors will communicate trial results to participants and healthcare professionals through scientific databases and social media. In addition, findings will be reported in peer-review publications, and at national and international conference presentations. Ethics approval: Ethics Committee of the Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil (N° 3.488.466).Trial registration numberNCT04154059.

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SummaryStudy aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with pain and musculoskeletal injuries in Brazilian kickboxers.Material and methods: This is a cross-sectional study composed of a population of kickboxers from the academies affiliated to the Rio Grande do Norte State Federation of Kickboxing. The study was conducted by means of a questionnaire regarding their demographic data, graduation and level of participation in the modality, routines of procedures during training, and pain/ discomfort regions and respective intensities. In addition, the characteristics, types, and regions of the injuries were evaluated.Results: Of the 132 kickboxers included, a high prevalence of pain (84.09%) was observed and associated with the female gender (OR = 3.62; CI95% 1.29–10.13) and body mass index (OR = 0.80; CI95% 0.71–0.91). In addition, the kickboxers presented a moderate percentage of injuries (40.91%) that were associated with longer training time (OR = 5.82; CI95% 2.68–12.61) and contact level in the training sessions (OR = 3.53; CI95% 1.85–6.72).Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in kickboxers, mainly associated with female gender and with lower body mass. Musculoskeletal injuries were moderately prevalent in kickboxers who trained more than one hour per session and with an intense contact level.

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