The effectiveness of static stretching for the prevention and the treatment of delayed muscle soreness
Date
1980
Authors
Rawlusyk, Patricia Elaine
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine if static stretching could be used for the treatment and for the prevention of delayed muscle soreness. Twenty female subjects aged 20 to 35 years were assigned at random to two groups: Group A for treatment and Group B for prevention. Each group served as its own control and experimental group. Delayed muscle soreness was induced in all subjects following repetitions of concentric and eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors. Subjects in Group A during the experimental situation applied static stretching to the exercised arm after the soreness had developed, at 24 hours, 34 hours, 46 hours, 48 hours, 58 hours and 70 hours following the experimental exercise. Group B subjects in the experimental situation applied static stretching immediately and at 2 hours, 6 hours, 20 hours and 22 hours post-exercise. The McGill Pain Questionnaire was used to measure the perceived pain for each subject in the control and experimental situations at 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours following the experimental exercise. Results indicated that when compared with the control group, each experimental group showed significantly lower levels of delayed muscle soreness. In the treatment Group A, major significance of .01 occurred at the 72 hour measurement period. In the preĀvention Group B, the exact location of the significant difference could not be determined. However, there was some statistical indication that the significant difference occurred at the 24 hour observation period.