Relationship between the increase in range of motion after static stretching and passive stiffness and joint position sense

Joint position sense may be related to increased range of motion (ROM) with static stretching (SS).

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the increased ROM and stretch tolerance, passive stiffness, and joint position sense in the acute effects of SS, including cross-education and non-local effects.

Eighteen healthy, young males were randomized to three SS intervention conditions [(1) ipsilateral, (2) contralateral, (3) hamstring stretching], and one (4) control condition. The SS intervention was performed on the dominant side in the ipsilateral condition, the non-dominant side in the contralateral condition, and on the hamstrings of the dominant side in the hamstring condition. SS was performed at three 60-s stretching interventions with a 30-s interval. In the control condition, participants sat on the chair for 240 s. The ankle dorsiflexion (DF) ROM, passive torque at DF ROM, passive stiffness, and joint position sense of the dominant side were measured pre and post-intervention the SS intervention. We performed pre and post-intervention comparisons and a correlation analysis using changes.

Significant positive correlations were noted between the change DF ROM and change passive torque at DF ROM in the ipsilateral (p < 0.001, r = 0.805), contralateral (p < 0.001, r = 0.814), and hamstring (p < 0.01, rs = 0.874) conditions. No significant correlation was found between changes DF ROM and changes passive stiffness and joint position sense in all conditions.

Increases in ROM due to acute effects of SS are not related to changes in joint position sense.