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European Journal of Applied Physiology
Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology 8/2017

Open Access 01-08-2017 | Original Article

Acute effects of constant torque and constant angle stretching on the muscle and tendon tissue properties

Authors: Andreas Konrad, Francesco Budini, Markus Tilp

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 8/2017

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Abstract

Purpose

Static stretching induces acute structural changes of the muscle–tendon unit (MTU) that are related to the intensity or duration of stretching. It has been reported that stretching with a constant torque (CT) leads to greater joint range of motion changes than stretching with a constant angle (CA). Whether or not this difference is due to different structural changes of the MTUs of the lower leg and ankle plantar flexors is not known. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the acute effects of single CA and CT stretching on various muscle and tendon mechanical properties.

Method

Seventeen young, healthy volunteers were tested on two separate days using either CT or CA stretching (4 × 30 s each). Before and after stretching, dorsiflexion range of motion (RoM), passive resistive torque (PRT), and maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) were measured with a dynamometer. Ultrasonography of the medial gastrocnemius (GM) muscle–tendon junction (MTJ) displacement allowed us to determine the length changes in the tendon and muscle, respectively, and hence to calculate their stiffness.

Results

Maximum dorsiflexion increased while PRT, muscle–tendon stiffness, and muscle stiffness decreased following both CA and CT stretching. There was a greater increase in RoM following CT stretching compared to CA stretching. Moreover, the decline in PRT was greater during CT stretching compared to CA stretching. As expected, several functional adaptations (RoM, PRT) were different between CT and CA stretching due to the higher intensity of CT stretching. However, no structural differences in the adaptations to the stretching modalities could be detected.

Conclusion

We suggest that the different functional adaptations between CA and CT stretching are the consequence of different adaptations in the perception of stretch and pain.
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Metadata
Title
Acute effects of constant torque and constant angle stretching on the muscle and tendon tissue properties
Authors
Andreas Konrad
Francesco Budini
Markus Tilp
Publication date
01-08-2017
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 8/2017
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3654-5

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