Effect of a physical education-based dynamic stretching program on hamstring extensibility in female high-school students

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of a dynamic stretching development program followed by a four-week detraining period and maintenance program on hamstring extensibility in a physical education setting. A sample of 108 female high-school students aged 16-17 years from four classes were clustered randomly and assigned to either an experimental or a control group. During physical education sessions, the experimental group students performed a dynamic stretching program twice a week for eight weeks. Subsequently, after a four-week period of detraining, the experimental group students completed a maintenance program twice a week during four weeks. The results of the two-way analysis of variance showed that the physical education-based development program significantly improved students' hamstring extensibility (p<.001). Although after four weeks of detraining students' flexibility reverted to its baseline levels (p>.05), the gains obtained previously were recovered after a four-week maintenance program (p<.001). Hence, a physical education-based dynamic stretching intervention is effective in improving and maintaining hamstring extensibility among female high-school students. However, after four weeks of detraining, students' flexibility reverts to its baseline levels. These findings could help and guide teachers to design programs that guarantee a feasible and an effective development of flexibility in a physical education setting.

Acute effect of a static- and dynamic-based stretching warm-up on standing long jump performance in primary schoolchildren

“…We completely disagree with the opinion of these authors. A bouncing-type movement is simply one of the possibilities within a range of dynamic stretching techniques [ 27 ].…”

“…On the other hand, among young people the practice of dynamic techniques has been rejected because of a greater potential risk of muscle injury [ 28 ]. Nevertheless, as several authors suggest [ 27 , 29 ], dynamic stretching exercises may not be harmful when practiced gently.…”

Effect of Physical Education-based stretching programs on hamstring extensibility in high school students: A systematic review

“…The sitting hip flexion and supine decubitus exercises with the knees extended were selected in some studies, due to the equilibrium conditions that guarantee during the execution and the stability of the knee in extension (Becerra-Fernández et al, 2016;Mayorga-Vega et al, 2015;Rodríguez et al 1999Rodríguez et al , 2008Sainz de Baranda, 2009;Useros & Campos, 2011). In addition to these postures some studies perform standing exercises (Mayorga-Vega et al, 2015;Nelson & Bandy, 2004;Reid & McNair, 2004;Useros & Campos, 2011).…”

“…Nevertheless, as several authors suggest (e.g., Behm et al, 2011;Turki-Belkhiria et al, 2014), dynamic stretching exercises may not be harmful when practiced in a soft and controlled way. In this line, three studies showed the effectiveness and safety of a dynamic stretching program (Becerra-Fernández et al, 2016;Van Rensburg & Coetzee, 2014;Vidal, 1995). Two studies were interested in determining whether there was a significant difference among the static and dynamic stretching techniques (Van Rensburg & Coetzee, 2014;Vidal, 1995).…”

“…Several previous studies have shown that a PE-based static stretching program improves students' hamstring extensibility in both primary (Mayorga-Vega, Merino-Marban, Vera-Estrada & Viciana, 2014b;Merino-Marban et al, 2015;Sánchez Rivas, Mayorga-Vega, Fernández-Rodríguez & Merino-Marban, 2014) and high school students (Becerra-Fernández, Merino-Marban & Mayorga-Vega, 2016;Mayorga-Vega, Merino-Marban, Real & Viciana, 2015;Sainz de Baranda, 2009;Van Resbourg & Coetzee, 2014). There are also some previous studies that have examined the effectiveness and safety of a dynamic stretching program in high school students (Becerra-Fernández et al, 2016;Van Rensburg & Coetzee, 2014;Vidal, 1995). Recently, Becerra-Fernández and Merino-Marban (2015) performed a systematic review of the effect of PE-based stretching programs on hamstring extensibility in primary schoolchildren.…”