EMG Analysis of the Stretching Effect on the Soleus Muscle

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the neurophysiological effect of stretching to suppress muscle tone, involving 40 left legs of 40 healthy male students. Evoked electromyography was performed under 2 different conditions (stretch and control) to compare soleus muscle activity between the conditions and between before and after stretching,based on the maximum H- to M-wave amplitude ratio (Hmax/Mmax). While there were no significant differences in Hmax/Mmax values between the 2 conditions, a marked decrease in such values was observed after stretching, suggesting the possibility of such stretching suppressing the excitability of spinal motor neurons.