The Effects of a Warm-up on Acute Hip Joint Flexibility Using a Modified PNF Stretching Technique

This study was conducted in order to determine the effects of various types of warm-up on performance of the slow-reversal-hold-relax modified Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) flexibility maneuver. The subjects for this study (N=54) were active, injuryfree females who were randomly assigned to stationary cycling, whirlpool, or control groups. Each group participated in its assigned treatment for 20 minutes and did not perform any stretching exercises before or during their warm-up. Acute flexibility data were collected for hip flexion with the use of a Leighton Flexometer following the treatment condition. Hip range of motion (ROM) did not differ between the groups performing a warm-up and the control group; therefore, a warm-up had no effect on hip ROM when using a modified PNF technique.