Moderate-Duration Static Stretching

According to Cannavan, et al., the aim of the research is to find the effects of moderate-duration static stretching on plantar flexor force production, compliance of the muscle tendon unit and levels of neuromuscular activation. Furthermore, the research design was appropriate to address the aims of the research because the research used both equivalence of men and women, nine each. In addition, the researcher used a control group and a pre-stretch group that also did four 45-s static stretches. This method is effective because with a control group, you can compare whether or not static stretching effects the pre-stretch group, which ultimately answers the researchers question of whether moderate-duration static stretching has an effect on

plantar flexor force production, compliance of the muscle tendon unit and levels of neuromuscular activation. The results were presented in five different sections that discuss muscle-tendon unit (MTU) response to stretch, muscle activation, rate of force development (RFD), muscle-tendon junction (MTJ) displacement, and moment characteristics. The MTU response to stretch saw a considerable decline in passive moment during stretch, which indicates a stress-relaxation response. Muscle activation results revealed a small but significant reduction in rate of twitch force reduction after stretching, which was relatively consistent across the subjects.

RFD was not affected during voluntary contraction. MTJ displacement revealed no significant differences in the magnitude of displacement between groups. Moment characteristics pertaining to plantar flexor moment revealed no significant differences. Overall, there were no significant differences between the control and stretch conditions, from pre- to post-stretch, and in antagonist EMG. The analysis was rigorous in that measurements for each section were calculated for the control group and pre- and post-stretch. The article clearly presented that the duration of stretching showed no change in muscle-tendon compliance. The discussion provided numerous graphs that validated the data such as a chart of superimposed stimuli and un-potentiated twitch and another chart showing the peak EMG (SD) before and after stretching for visual support. But also, the article compared previous evidence in contrast with the current study to effectively provide a thorough analysis for the conclusion of the data, which, became: the current data failed to support the actual

hypothesis. However, the experiment proved ultimately useful in two ways. It was the “first study” to “[their] knowledge” that actually delved into the twitch contractile properties and MTJ displacement. (Saving time and providing insight for those curious of these findings as well). And, the second, and ultimately more important research result, was “a significant reduction in the rate of muscle relaxation”.