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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article

Lower hamstring extensibility in men compared to women is explained by differences in stretch tolerance

Authors: Paul WM Marshall, Jason C Siegler

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

This study examined whether passive hamstring tissue stiffness and/or stretch tolerance explain the relationship between sex and hamstring extensibility.

Methods

Ninety healthy participants, 45 men and 45 women (mean ± SD; age 24.6 ± 5.9 years, height 1.72 ± 0.09 m, weight 74.6 ± 14.1 kg) volunteered for this study. The instrumented straight leg raise was used to determine hamstring extensibility and allow measurement of stiffness and stretch tolerance (visual analog pain score, VAS).

Results

Hamstring extensibility was 9.9° greater in women compared to men (p = 0.003). VAS scores were 16 mm lower in women (p = 0.001). Maximal stiffness (maximal applied torque) was not different between men and women (p = 0.42). Passive stiffness (slope from 20-50° hip flexion) was 0.09 Nm.°-1 lower in women (p = 0.025). For women, linear and stepwise regression showed that no predictor variables were associated with hamstring extensibility (adjusted r2 = -0.03, p = 0.61). For men, 44% of the variance in hamstring extensibility was explained by VAS and maximal applied torque (adjusted r2 = 0.44, p < 0.001), with 41% of the model accounted for by the relationship between higher VAS scores and lower extensibility (standardized β coefficient = -0.64, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that stretch tolerance and not passive stiffness explains hamstring extensibility, but this relationship is only manifest in men.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Lower hamstring extensibility in men compared to women is explained by differences in stretch tolerance
Authors
Paul WM Marshall
Jason C Siegler
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-15-223

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