RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Increasing Muscle Extensibility: A Matter of Increasing Length or Modifying Sensation?
JF Physical Therapy
JO Phys Ther
FD American Physical Therapy Association
SP 438
OP 449
DO 10.2522/ptj.20090012
VO 90
IS 3
A1 Weppler, Cynthia Holzman
A1 Magnusson, S. Peter
YR 2010
UL http://jcore-reference.highwire.org/content/90/3/438.abstract
AB Various theories have been proposed to explain increases in muscle extensibility observed after intermittent stretching. Most of these theories advocate a mechanical increase in length of the stretched muscle. More recently, a sensory theory has been proposed suggesting instead that increases in muscle extensibility are due to a modification of sensation only. Studies that evaluated the biomechanical effect of stretching showed that muscle length does increase during stretch application due to the viscoelastic properties of muscle. However, this length increase is transient, its magnitude and duration being dependent upon the duration and type of stretching applied. Most of these studies suggest that increases in muscle extensibility observed after a single stretching session and after short-term (3- to 8-week) stretching programs are due to modified sensation. The biomechanical effects of long-term (>8 weeks) and chronic stretching programs have not yet been evaluated. The purposes of this article are to review each of these proposed theories and to discuss the implications for research and clinical practice.