Acute effect of active isolated stretching technique on range of motion and peak isometric force.

AIM: The aim of the study was to ascertain the acute effect of stretching technique Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) over the range of active and passive movement of the hip in flexion and peak isometric force (PIF) knee flexion. METHODS: The left and right leg of seventeen male Physical Education students (Mean age±SD=23±1 yrs, body mass=71.77±7.78 kg, height=175.5±7.5 cm) were treated as control and experimental groups and each leg was assessed separately for active (AROM) and passive (PROM) range of motion (ROM) and force. Immediately after the pretest, training was conducted with a single stretching session using AIS technique, consisting of 4 sets of 12 repetitions. Upon completion of the session, after 15s, the post-test was performed to evaluate ROM and isometric strength. RESULTS: The factorial ANOVA showed significant increases in AROM (P<0.05) and PROM (P<0.001) after the application of AIS in the experimental group. Only in AROM the value obtained in the experimental group was significantly greater than for the control group (p=0.018) AIS treatment did not affect stretching PIF values. CONCLUSION: We concluded that technique of AIS on the hamstring muscles was effective in improving acute ROM and caused no significant changes in PIF of knee flexion.