Pooja Chaudhuri and Nilo. Z. Kiba
INTRODUCTION
Flexibility is de ned as “the ability of a muscle to
lengthen, allowing one joint (or more than one joint
in a series) to move through a range of motion (ROM)
(Bandy et al., 1994,1998) Roberts et al 1999) and a loss
of muscle exibility as “ a decrease in the ability of the
muscle to deform,” resulting in decreased ROM about
a joint. (Bandy et al., 1997, Russell et al., 2004). It is
believed that stretching can prevent injury (Zachezewski
et al.,1989 Hubley et al., 1984) enhance athletic per-
formance (Anderson et al., 1991,. Beaulieu et al., 1981,
Worrell 1994) and assist in rehabilitation following mus-
culoskeletal injury (Agre et al.,1985). Stretching is tradi-
tionally used as part of warm up to improve exibility
(Shellock et al., 1985, McMillian et al 2006, Dalrymple
et al 2010, Page 2012).
The literature document three methods of stretching
exercises to increase exibility: ballistic stretching, static
stretching and PNF techniques. All three methods have
been documented to increase ROM immediately after
stretching. (Russell et al., 2004, Sady et al 1982).
Propri-
oceptive neuromuscular facilitation involves the use of
brief isometric contractions of the muscle to be stretched
before statically stretching the muscle. This technique
not only requires expertise to perform but also requires
one-on–one intervention with another experienced indi-
vidual. Static stretching is performed by placing muscles
at their greatest possible length and holding that posi-
tion for a period of time (Beaulieu et al., 1981, Ander-
son et al., 1991,Russell et al., 2004). Ballistic stretch uses
bouncing or jerking movements imposed on the muscles
to be stretched. The quick, jerking motion that occurs
during the ballistic stretch can theoretically exceed the
extensibility limits of the muscle in an uncontrolled
manner and cause injury. The use of ballistic technique,
therefore, has not been widely supported in the literature
(Ferreira et al, 2007 & Torres et al, 2008).
Although documentation exists that static, ballistic,
and PNF techniques will increase the exibility of mus-
cle, (Sady et al., 1982, Moore et al., 1980), but the most
widely used method for increasing ROM because of the
simplicity of execution and lower potential for tissue
trauma. An ample volume of literature has focused on
the effects of stretching on the exibility of the ham-
strings muscle. However,there is a scarcity of evidence
of stretching on other muscle groups, such as the gas-
trocnemius, soleus, quadriceps and triceps surae, (Bandy
et al., 1997, Russell et al., 2004). Rectus femoris is the
only muscle in the quadriceps group that is involved
in hip exion, since it originates in the pelvis and not
the femur. Isolated rectus femoris (RFM) tightness is
associated with a variety of clinical disorders. Rectus
femoris tightness may lead to alteration in swing phase,
increased energy expenditure and pain during walking
downstairs or when wearing high heels, ( Csink et al.,
1963, Lenart et al., 1974, Lateur et al., 1978 Richard et
al., 1985).
Another important point of consideration in the pre-
sent study is the effect of time and duration of stretching
on exibility of rectus femoris muscle. The duration and
frequency of muscle stretching may interfere with the
improvement of exibility.While the literature is unani-
mous in its support for static stretching resulting in
increased ROM, no consistency is apparent with regard
to how long stretches (time) and how much stretches
(frequency) should be held to obtain optimum bene ts.
Some researchers suggested that the 30 s duration of
stretching with one or three times a day is effective
for increasing muscle exibility (Marques et al., 2009).
However, other studies recommended that the duration
of stretching in exibility training programmers range
from 5 to 60 seconds,yet justi cations for these selec-
tions have largely been absent (Roberts et al., 1999)
The purpose of study was to determine the time
and frequency of static stretching that most effectively
increase exibility of the rectus femoris muscles, as
measured by active knee exion test.The effects of ve
daily frequencies and durations of static stretching on
rectus femoris muscle exibility was compared 5 days
per week for 6 weeks: (1) three 15 – second stretches (2)
one 30 – second stretch (3) one 15- second stretch (4) a
control (no stretching activity).The main objective of this
work was to determine the optimal time and frequency
of static stretching to increase exibility of rectus femo-
ris muscle, as measured by active knee exion test.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The present study was an experimental study (3 5 fac-
torial designs), performed in the Research lab of Depart-
ment of Physiotherapy at Shri Jagdishprasad Jhabarmal
Tibrewala University, Rajasthan. The Institutional Ethi-
cal Committee approved the study, where prior to par-
ticipation in the study, subjects were explained about
the procedures that they would have to follow during
the study. The patients’ consent was taken on the con-
sent form for participation in the study. All the subjects
were the residents of Rajasthan, who volunteered for the
study and were randomly allocated into ve groups. The
size of the sample was 50 subjects with 10 samples each
in group A,B,C,D and E. Subjects of either genderaged20
to 30 years having unilateral (right side) tightness of
rectus femoris muscle with no history ofback pain, uri-
nary tract infection, soft tissue injury, fracture of lower
limb, in ammatory joint & arthritic condition of lower
limb with acute or chronic rectus femoris injury were
BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS EFFECT OF STATIC STRETCHING ON RECTUS FEMORIS MUSCLE 519