Abstract
Background & Purposes : Passive static stretching plays an important role in maintenance of healthy musculoskeletal systems. To establish a possibly ideal protocol for the exercise management, duration and frequency of the stretching of the exercise were examined in combination with thermo therapy. Subjects and Methods : In 22 healthy undergraduate students statistic stretching was performed five times for repeated 10 seconds (5×10 group) in half, and once for 50 seconds (1×50 group) in others. In both groups the same exercise was done in combination with thermo therapy one week later. The straight leg raising (SLR) angle and the stretching strength calculated from Hand-held dynamometer were evaluated before and, immediately and 10 minutes after stretching. Results : SLR angle and the stretching strength were augmented immediately after stretching significantly in subjects receiving the exercise in 5×10 group but not in 50×1 group. Thermo therapy did not enhance the efficacy of the stretching. There was significant correlation between the augmented rate of SLR angle and that of stretching strength in 10×5 group. Consideration : To improve the SLR angle statistic stretching five times for repeated 10 minutes may be recommended better than once for 50 minutes, and the effect might be due to neurophysiological factors.
