Acute Effects of Stretching Duration on Range of Motion of Elderly Women

Polixeni Thoma, Christos Galazoulas, Maria Papageorgopoulou, Ekaterini Vergou, & Athanasios Zakas

Department of Physical Education & Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hellas

Abstract

The effect of the duration of static stretching as well as that of the number of repetitions in acute stretching protocols on flexibility has not been extensively examined in the elderly. The aim of the present study was to investigate the acute effects of stretching duration on the range of motion (ROM) of the lower extremities and the trunk in elderly women, when stretching is performed once or in multiple repetitions while controlling the total amount of the time spent in one stretching session. Twenty sedentary women aging 65-85 years old (mean age=75.9) participated in this study. Subjects performed three static stretching protocols lasting for 60 s each, in non-consecutive training sessions. The first stretching protocol comprised of a 60 s stretch (1x60), the second of two 30 s stretches (2x30), whereas the third was of four 15 s stretches (4x15). ROM was determined during hip flexion, extension and abduction, knee flexion, and ankle dorsiflexion, as well as during trunk flexion, using a flexometer and a goniometer. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures revealed no significant differences between the stretching protocols. Further statistical analysis indicated significant (p<.001) improvements after the stretching exercises, in all flexibility protocols. The findings suggest that a single 60 s static stretch of the lower extremities and trunk’s muscles produced the same effect as two 30 s and four 15 s stretches during a flexibility training session involving sedentary elderly women.

Key words: flexibility, stretching duration, range of motion, elderly women