Effect of active stretch on hip flexion range of motion in female professional futsal players.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine the hamstring flexibility progression through hip flexion passive range of motion before (baseline hip flexion PROM, lasting 6 weeks), during (effect of stretching program, lasting 8 weeks) and after (flexibility retention, lasting 4 weeks) an 8-week active stretching program in female professional futsal players. METHODS: Eighteen young adult professional female futsal players completed this study. An uninterrupted, longitudinal repeated-measures design was employed with participants randomly assigned into two groups: control and stretching group. The stretching group performed an 8-week active stretching program. The unilateral passive straight leg raise test was used to assess hip flexion PROM (hamstring extensibility) at 2, 4, and 6 weeks before the stretching program, at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks during the stretching program and at 2 and 4 weeks after the stretching program. RESULTS: The analysis of the initial phase revealed that baseline hip flexion PROM had an irregular tendency with positive and negative peak hamstring ROM. An 8-week active stretching program improved hip flexion ROM 26.0±8.8% (P<0.05). Four weeks after the stretching program ended, hip flexion PROM retention showed a significant decrease (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The effect of acute stretching prior to intensive physical activities should be considered by strength and conditioning specialists before using this active stretching program as part of a pre-exercise warm up routine.