The effect of 8 weeks of stretching training on knee-joint range of motion and hamstring muscle archietcture

Abstract

Aim: The present study, therefore, was designed to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of flexibility training on knee joint range of motion and hamstring muscle architecture during active and passive joint movement. Hypotheses: It was hypothesized that maximal ROM would increase after 8weeksof stretching exercise. Further it was hypothesized that stretching would elicit increased fascicle length and decreased fiber pennation angle. Finally, it was hypothesized that the above mentioned musclemorphological adaptations would induce a shift of voluntary concentric angle of peak torque towards a more flexed knee joint, while no concurrent changes would be seen in peak torque as a consequence of stretching.